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Original fileEngelenburcht
About This Work
This engraving illustrates the massive Roman fortress and bridge as they appeared in the early 17th century. The central cylindrical mausoleum is depicted with its later Renaissance fortifications and the statue of the Archangel Michael atop the summit. Small figures and carriages populate the bridge and riverbanks, providing a sense of scale to the ancient ruins and contemporary structures.
Aegidius Sadeler served as the imperial engraver to Rudolf II in Prague, a major center for Renaissance esotericism and natural philosophy. His series of Roman ruins, *Vestigi delle antichità di Roma*, documented the classical past for an audience of scholars and courtiers who viewed ancient architecture through the lens of historical memory and Vitruvian proportion.
Inscriptions(Latin)
Vestigij del monumento ouero mole d’Adriano, la quale fu edificata da Elio Adriano Imperatore, qual fu il primo che ui fosse sepolto, et doppo esso tutti gli altri Antonini che a lui successero nella dignità dell’Imperio. Era questo edificio nel primo piano di forma quadrata di opra Dorica, et sopra di questo giro era un edificio tondo altiss.mo come oggi se ne ueggono gran uestigi, era intorno ornato con gran colonne et di sopra di statue et caualli. Hora e’ ridotto in forma di castello et di fortezz.a da diuersi Pontefici et ui si uede ancor il superbiss.o ponte che detto Elio Adriano edifico per servitio di detta mole oggi li chiamano castello et ponte sant’ Angelo Marco Sadeler excudit 35
Translation
Traces of the monument or mole of Hadrian, which was built by the Emperor Aelius Hadrian, who was the first to be buried there, and after him all the other Antonines who succeeded him in the dignity of the Empire. This building was on the first level of square shape in Doric work, and above this circuit was a very high round building as one still sees great traces of today, it was adorned around with great columns and above with statues and horses. Now it is reduced to the form of a castle and fortress by various Pontiffs and there one still sees the most superb bridge that said Aelius Hadrian built for the service of said mole; today they call them Castel and Ponte Sant' Angelo Marco Sadeler excudit 35
Connected Texts
Rudolf II of Prague
Aegidius Sadeler was the principal court engraver for Rudolf II, whose court was the primary European hub for alchemical and Hermetic studies.
Collections
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
height 158 mm x width 260 mm
architectural
Linked Data
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