Pisa: the Campanile (leaning tower). Etching by A. Verico, 1816.
- Date:
- [1816]
- Reference:
- 2935669i
- Pictures
About this work
Description
In the foreground, left, an artist makes a drawing of the tower, while two standing men compare his drawing with the tower. A man in ceremonial or military uniform walks arm in arm with a lady. Two clerics walk towards the en trance to the tower. On the right, two men admire the tower,and a soldier accompanies a man looking at the tower through a quizzing glass: they are approached by a man begging for alms Near the entrance, a man with a wooden leg begs for alms. Right, other tourists admire the tower. Visitors are shown on the upper balconies of the tower, and several people admire the view from the top
Publication/Creation
[Livorno] : Gio. Batt.a Guerrazzi, [1816]
Physical description
1 print : etching, with engraving : platemark 63.5 x 39.8 cm
Lettering
Veduta del campanile de Pisa in Toscana. I fondamenti di questa ammirabil torre furono gettati il dì 9 di agosto dell'anno 1174. I suoi architetti furono Guglielmo da Norimberga, e Buonanno Pisano. Essa è alta b(racci)a 95 circondata da 207 colonne, e pende b(racci)a 7.Antonio Verico inc. 1816. A Sua eccellenza il Signore Giovanni Fane Lord Burghersh ajutante di campo di S.A.R il Principe Reggente, membro dell'Imperial parlamento della Gran Brettagna ... inviato straordinario, e ministro plenipotenziario di S.M. Brittannica all' I. e R. Corte di Toscana Gio. Batt.a Guerrazzi d. d. d.
Creator/production credits
Some details of the composition seem to be copied from an earlier print by F. Fambrini, 1782, after G.G. Nascio, e.g. the buildings shown on the right. Other details are different, e.g. the figures in the foreground and the people on the tower
Dedicated to John Fane, 11th earl of Westmorland, who bore the courtesy title Lord Burghersh until succeeding to the earldom of Westmorland in 1841. "In August 1814 Burghersh took up a diplomatic career and went to Florence as envoy-extraordinary and minister-plenipotentiary [to Tuscany]; he remained in Italy until 1830, serving in the same capacity at Parma, Lucca, and Modena from 1818. ... Westmorland was one of the most influential amateur musicians of his day. He was an accomplished violinist and a prolific composer ... He held firmly to a belief in the inferiority of all musical styles to the Italian ... His greatest importance was as the founder of the Royal Academy of Music in 1823. ... he insisted on restricting the programmes of the academy's concerts to Italian music and his own compositions" (Oxford dictionary of national biography)
Reference
Wellcome Collection 2935669i
Type/Technique
Languages
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed stores