Centaur playing lyre, with young man. Fresco engraving.

by Lavega, Francesco

18th century antique print. Centaur, Lyre and boy.

Wonderful copperplate-engraved mezzotint c1757 by Rocco Pozzi from the drawing by Francesco Lavega. 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 is in fine condition, though page extremities are slightly age discoloured. Page size is 475 x 355mm (18 ¾ x 14 inches). To intaglio impression measures 350 x 248mm (13 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches).