Domus Aurea N° 23 - Carloni / Smuglewicz 1776

📜 Description
Original 18th-century etching from “Vestigia delle terme di Tito e loro interne pitture”, engraved by Marco Carloni after a drawing by Franciszek Smuglewicz and published in Rome by Ludovico Mirri in 1776. The scene depicts a seated female figure resting on a draped support, crowned with foliage and holding symbolic attributes including a raised vegetal branch and a large vessel, elements suggesting an allegorical identity related to nature, abundance, or a classical deity.
The composition is structured within a richly ornamented grotesque frame, featuring hybrid figures, fantastic animals, masks, and vegetal motifs arranged in a symmetrical scheme typical of ancient Roman decorative repertory. Identified as “Domus Aurea N° 23”, the plate documents a wall decoration from Nero’s residence, rendered with analytical clarity and intended for scholarly and visual dissemination.
The work holds documentary and collectible value as evidence of the archaeological rediscovery and the spread of Neoclassical taste through antique printmaking.

📚 Historical note
The plate belongs to the important editorial project by Ludovico Mirri, dedicated to the systematic reproduction of ancient paintings from the Domus Aurea and the Baths of Titus. Franciszek Smuglewicz, a draughtsman specialized in archaeological subjects, produced precise visual records of the decorations, while Marco Carloni translated them into engraved form, contributing to the dissemination of classical ornamental models across Europe.

🧾 Technical sheet
Type: original etching
Designer / Engraver: Franciszek Smuglewicz; Marco Carloni
Publisher / Printer: Ludovico Mirri
Place: Rome
Period: 1776
Technique: etching
Subject / Title: Domus Aurea N° 23
Dimensions: sheet 64.5 × 75.5 cm; plate 49 × 50.5 cm

🔍 Condition Report
Very good overall condition, with clear impression and well-preserved margins; normal, even age-related patina to the paper.