Two Story Entrance Flanked by Coupled Pilasters, from "Roman Ruins and Buildings"

Art Historical Context

This etching and engraving from 1562 captures a grand two-story Roman entrance framed by paired pilasters, part of Hieronym Cock’s influential series “Roman Ruins and Buildings.” Published in Antwerp, the print was created by the skilled brothers Lucas and Johannes van Doetecum after designs inspired ancient architecture. Cock, a leading Flemish print publisher, capitalized on the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity, making images of Rome’s crumbling monuments available to artists, architects, and collectors across Europe. The combination of etching and engraving allowed for both delicate lines and crisp architectural details, enabling precise renderings of classical orders and proportions. Such prints played a vital role in spreading knowledge of Roman design principles during the sixteenth century, influencing buildings from palaces to public squares far beyond Italy. Today, this modest sheet—measuring just over seven by ten inches—offers viewers a window into how early modern Europe reimagined and preserved the legacy of ancient Rome through the new medium of print.