Many years ago, Derek Nicholls and I indulged our love of Italian antiquities on an adventure in Venice, wandering up and down bridges and footpaths, immersing ourselves in the architecture and mood of this amazing place. We usually walked until we reached 'dead-ends' and had to retrace our steps... with numerous pitstops for discussions and refreshments along the way...

As with many European towns, we found a wonderful little place selling antique maps and prints, - and met the lovely owner who showed us where our AntiquePrintClub website was at the top of his bookmarks. What a small world it is!
I wished I spoke Italian. Big smiles and finger-pointing are often equally bonding.
In Italy we always included at least one independent tour - amd visited as many grand old buildings as possible - engrossed in the sculptures and artifacts from previous eras, and the walls painted with frescoes illustrating earlier architecture. Unlike the buildings of our own country, Australia, which is only a few hundred years old, we really appreciated the earlier 'classical' archtiecture with all its various styles of architectural embellishment. When we did find antique prints that we have for sale in our Antique Print Club business we were quietly pleased to find that our antique prints are in superior condition to many in Europe that had not been so well cared for.


Elegant large statues of ancient gods engraved from the drawings of Dolcibene... antique prints c.1784 were not easy to find in good condition, and when we had found them they sold quite quickly - like so many of our finer earlier engravings and etchings...
Smaller charming engravings of famous marble statues by Canova and other great artists were engraved early in the 19th century and are somewhat smaller. Equally beautiful but not nearly as rare, they are affordable by everyone.

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) trained as an architect in Venice, and when 23 years old was awarded a prize to study in Rome. He worked in Rome with one of the finest sculptors of all time, fellow Venetian, Antonio Canova. Piranesi loved ancient architecture, and set up his own workshop on the Corso in Rome, where he restored and sold Roman antiquities. Devising a new method of engraving, Piranesi soon established himself as the greatest etcher of the 18th century. Piranesi Vases and Urns are still used in modern décor (usually as reproductions). We sell his beautiful original etchings on early hand-made paper.

After arriving in Rome we again visited the Vatican museums, where Raphael's work never loses its grandeur. The Pope's private residence and Loggia are these days not accessible to the public, but 250 years after Raphael completed his 'decorating' commission another Pope engaged architects, draughtsmen and engravers to record Raphael's beautiful frescoes and ceiling arches before they further deteriorated from the weather. The Vatican Loggia frescoes are now covered to protect them from further weather deterioration.
Raphael's Loggia pilasters and arches, are some of the grandest and most spectacular of all 18th century artwork that is available today. They are a perfect focal point for any grand setting. We also sell the smaller pairs of Raphael's pilasters that were published at the beginning of the 19th century. These are exquisitely engraved with the finest details - and have also been hand-coloured in superb gouache colour.
To arrange a viewing of these or any other superb antique prints and maps
please arrange a visit to the Antique Print Club at Neranwood -
1 hour south of Brisbane or north of Byron Bay.
please email Kathryn: sales@antiqueprintclub.com - or phone 0412 442 283