18th century Roman fresco. Pan with a lady.

by Vanni, Niccolo

Antique print of Herculaneum classical fresco. Wicked Pan with pipes and thyrus rod, seducing young lady.

Wonderful copperplate-engraved mezzotint c1757 by Filippo Morghen from the drawing by Niccolo Vanni. With damaged sections indicated, this fresco was unearthed at Herculaneum following 18th century excavations. It was engraved for Le Antichita di Ercolano Esposte (Herculaneum Antiquities Exposed), the most important 18th century publication of archaelogical discoveries, printed in Naples between 1757 and 1792, under the patronage of King Charles II. This marvellous work documents forty years of excavations and the archaeological ruins that were unearthed around the Bay of Naples at Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia (Campania), Roman municipia that were buried when Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.

This page has slight foxing and age-discolouration. Page size is 475 x 355mm (18 3/4  x 14 inches). To intaglio impression measures 340 x 235mm (13 3/8 x 9 1/4 inches). Base of page has been folded back.