Plan of the City of Rome

Art Historical Context

Behold the majestic *Plan of the City of* (1645), a monumental etching and engraving crafted from 12 plates by Antonio Tempesta, with publication by Giovanni Domenico de Rossi the patronage of Cardinal Cam Pamphili. Measuring impressive 41 516 x 94 1/2 inches (105 x 240 cm), this map captures Baroque-era Rome in exquisite detail, offering visitors a bird's-eye view of the Eternal City's sprawling layout—from the Vatican to the ancient forums. Created during a golden age of papal urban renewal, the map reflects Rome's transformation into a grand stage for Catholic pilgrimage and power. Tempesta, a master etcher known for dynamic landscapes, employed etching's fluid lines for intricate cityscapes, augmented by engraving for precise architectural accents. Printed in an undescribed state, it served not just as a navigational tool but as a celebratory document of Rome's enduring allure, blending topography, monuments, and urban vitality. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Edward Pearce Casey Fund, 1983), this rare print invites modern viewers to trace the threads of history across Rome's timeless streets, evoking the 17th-century wonder of its domes and ruins.

About the Artist

Giovanni Domenico de Rossi|Cardinal Camillo Pamphili|Antonio Tempesta (Italian| |Italian) · 1575 |1600 |1619 –1642 |1700 |1653

Italian, Bologna 1575–1642 Bologna| |Italian, 1619–1653