18th century mezzotint engraving of Herculanean fresco

by Vanni, Niccolo

Antique print of fresco excavated at Herculaneum c1757. This is a simple engraving of men fishing.

Small copperplate engraved mezzotint of a man fishing in a peaceful environment. Engraved by Aloja from a drawing by Niccolo Vanni for the most important archaeological work of the 18th century - the recording of the discoveries at Pompeii, Ercolano (Herculaneum) and Stabiae (Campania), the region that had been covered since the eruption of Mt Vesusius late in AD79.

The thickness of hand-made paper varied considerably. The paper of this engraving has a few imperfections, is of slightly lighter weight and has acquired a vertical crease at the rear which is not discernable from the front - most likely from the stretching of the paper during printing. To intaglio impression measures 140 x 175mm (5 1/2 x 7 inches).