Putti, Lyre, Hippogryphs pulling Chariot. Herculaeum fresco engraving c1760.

by Lavega, Francesco

Cherubs playing. Hand-coloured engraving. Fresco of Pompeii Putti.

One of a charming series of small 18th century engravings of Putti at Work and Play.

Original mezzotint engraved on copper by Nicolaus Vanni after a drawing by Francesco Lavega for the most important 18th century archaeological documentation, of excavations at Pompeii, Ercolano (Herculaneum) and Stabiae, - discovered during excavation hundreds of years after the region was covered by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 CE. Published in Naples between 1757 and 1792, with patronage of King Charles II.

This small image has later colour. Engraving to plate mark: 11 x 16cm (4 3/8 x 6 3/8 inches).