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Original fileRuïnes op de Aventijn
About This Work
This print shows the rugged slopes of the Aventine Hill covered in the remains of ancient Roman structures, including shattered brick walls and arched foundations. Several large, masted cargo ships and smaller rowing boats occupy the foreground water, highlighting the area's role as a commercial port. The composition captures the 'Marmorata' district, where ancient marble was historically unloaded and traded.
Created by Aegidius Sadeler, the court engraver to Emperor Rudolf II in Prague, this work represents the Mannerist fascination with the decay of classical antiquity. While topographical, it serves the 'memento mori' tradition popular in Rudolfine circles, reflecting on the transience of earthly power through the lens of Roman archaeology.
Inscriptions(Latin)
Vestigij d'una parte del monte Aventino che guarda uerso Ponente et il Teuere, quale per esser molto ruinata non vi si uede altro che muri spezzati et rotti; Anchor che antichamente nella sumità ui fossero bellissimi Tempij et edificij nel segno. A uoghono che iui fossero le saline, hoggidi questo luoco si chiama la marmorata perche ui si scaricano diuerse pietre di mischio et di marmo qualli si trouano al porto d' Ostia, nel segno. B. e l'altra rippa del fiume doue ariuano tutti gli uasselli et marcanzie che uengono per la marina in Roma. Marco Sadeler excudit.
Translation
Remains of a part of the Aventine Hill which faces towards the West and the Tiber, which, being very ruined, one sees nothing there but broken and shattered walls; although in ancient times at the summit there were most beautiful temples and buildings at the mark. They say that the salt-works were there, nowadays this place is called the Marmorata because various stones of mixed colors and marble are unloaded there which are found at the port of Ostia, at the mark. B. is the other bank of the river where all the vessels and merchandise arrive that come by sea to Rome. Marco Sadeler excudit.
Connected Texts
Aegidius Sadeler
As the principal engraver for Rudolf II, Sadeler was responsible for disseminating the visual culture of the Prague court, which was steeped in Hermeticism and natural philosophy.
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
height 158 mm x width 269 mm
landscape
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.