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

Etching of Posi's design for the "prima macchina" of 1772

printed 1772

- This etching for a fireworks construction or macchina is dedicated to Chinese philosophy. The macchina is in the form of a wall articulated with a specially designed order of architecture. The capitals of the order consist of two dragons looking in opposite directions. Statues representing chinese philosophers are placed between the columns.

• record drawing

Etching

plate mark: 39.5 x 53.7 cm sheet: 45.8 x 67.4 cm

DR1988:0437:044

• line drawing

• pictorial drawing

• general view
• exterior view

- The sheet has an old fold down the c.

inscribed and dated - by an unknown hand, in the plate below the image, l.l. to l.r.: "Disegno della Prima Machina rappresentante un Luogo dedicato alla Cinese Filosofia. Incendiata per comando di Sua Eccellenza il Sig.r DON LORÈNZO COLONNA Gran Contestabile del Regno di Napoli / &c. &c. come Ambasciatore straordinario di SUA MAESTÀ IL RÈ delle due Sicilie &c. &c. &c. in congiuntura della presentazione della Chinea alla Santità di Nostro Signore PAPA CLEMENTE XIV. nella / Vigilia de Gloriosi Santi Apostoli PIETRO, e PAOLO l'anno MDCCLXXII."; l.l.: "Cavalier Paolo Posi Architetto Giuseppe Palazzi delin."; l.r.: "Cavalier Giuseppe Vasi incise" dated - by an unknown hand, in graphite, on the print outside the plate mark, l.l.: "1772" numbered - by an unknown hand, in graphite, on the print outside the plate mark, l.r.: "8"

• architecture temporaire