• Giuseppe Vasi (etcher)
• Paolo Posi (architect)
• Giuseppe Palazzi (draughtsman)
• Pope Clement XIII (dedicatee)
• Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies (patron)
• Lorenzo Colonna (patron)

Etching of Posi's design for the "prima macchina" of 1760

printed 1760

- This etching of a fireworks construction or macchina is in the form of a temple dedicated to Neptune, whose statue is visible behind the portico. The temple is surmounted by a crest and is flanked by two monumental columns. Four ships appear to be engaged in a battle in the background.

• record drawing

Etching

plate mark: 38.6 x 53.5 cm sheet: 45.5 x 67.0 cm

DR1988:0437:028

• line drawing

• pictorial drawing

- Old vertical fold through centre of sheet

inscribed - by an unknown hand, in the plate on the image, c.l.: "PLVS" and c.r.: "VLTRA" inscribed - by an unknown hand, in the plate below the image, l.l. to l.r.: "Disegno della Prima Machina rappresentate il Tempio di Nettuno. Incendiata per commando di Sua Eccellenza il Sig.r DON LORENZO COLONNA Gran Contestabile del Regno / di Napoli &.&. come Ambasciatore Straordinario di S.M. il RE' delle due Sicilie &.&.& in congiuntura della presentazione della chinea alla Santità di Nostro Signore / PAPA CLEMENTE XIII. nella Vigilia de gloriosi Santi APOSTOLI PIETRO, e PAOLO l'Anno MDCCLX. / Paolo Posi Architetto Giuseppe Palazzi disegno Giuseppe Vasi incise" dated - by an unknown hand, in graphite, l.l.: "1760" stamped - in purple ink, l.r.: the letters "G" and "V" on either side of an oval numbered - by an unknown hand, in graphite, l.r.: "162" [inside the oval of the purple stamp]

• architecture temporaire