Rome: Quirinal Hill, project for the expansion and fortification of the Papal Gardens, plan, c. 1624–25

Artist/Maker

DatesMade: Executed between c. 1575 and 1625

Material / Technique

Dimensionsh x w: Mått 50,8 x 48,5 cm

Inventory numberNMH CC 565

AcqusitionGift 1941 by Eric Langenskiöld. Formerly in the Cronstedt collection, Fullerö

Other titlesTitel (sv): Plan över ett parti av Rom, sannolikt Quirinalen, med en muromgärdad park och en intilliggande byggnad Titel (en): Rome: Quirinal Hill, project for the expansion and fortification of the Papal Gardens, plan, c. 1624–25 Tidigare: Plan of a Part of Rome, Probably North of the Quirinale next to the City Wall, Containing a Large Park

DescriptionRes. Katalogtext: Bortolozzi, Italian Architectural Drawings from the Cronstedt Collection, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, 2020 (cat.no. 155) Carlo Maderno (1556–1629), his workshop Pen and brown ink over black chalk, black chalk, stylus, yellow, pink and violet wash, compass, straightedge and freehand, 50.8/49.8 × 48.5/46.5 cm NM H CC 565 PAPER: a strip is glued on to the upper part of the drawing to modify the direction and the articulation of the fortified northern wall of the garden, rendered in violet wash. The drawing has been subsequently laid down on to a mounting sheet of French paper dating back to the late 17th century WATERMARK: none visible WATERMARK OF THE SECONDARY SUPPORT: Chaplet 10 INSCRIPTIONS: scudi 3766, 57 (in the upper left corner, in pen and brown ink); Strada Pia canne 122, 5 - Revolta canne 46 1/5 - La Cortina del Casino canne 34, 1/5 - +68 - +71 - +42 - 384 x60 – 23040 (in the upper right corner, in black chalk); sono tutto canne 98; sguizeri; stanzie (at centre lower edge, in black chalk); finiti scudi 647, 68 palmi 495 (at right lower edge, in brown ink); various measurements MEASUREMENTS: Roman palmi, canne: scale at the lower edge with 5 units (500 palmi) = 20.5 cm PROVENANCE: Carl Johan Cronstedt and descendants; Eric Langenskiöld; gift to the Nationalmuseum of Stockholm 1941 BIBLIOGRAPHY: Frommel 1999, 31, fig. 16; Colalucci 2013, 153, fig. 20; Zampa 2013, 178, fig. 9 The plan drawing appears to have a dual purpose: the construction of a fortified wall around the Papal Vigna on the Quirinal and the design of the northeast part of the garden, the former Vigna Boccaccio. The western part (the former Vigna Carafa), close to the Papal Palace, was purchased from the d’Este family by the Camera Apostolica in 1587. By the 16th century, the Vigna Carafa had acquired a formal character by the planting of terraces. On its right, the Vigna Boccaccio (donated to Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este by Pope Pius IV in 1560) maintained a grove-like and natural appearance until 1624, when Pope Urban VIII finally succeeded in purchasing it from Duke Cesare d’Este. It is therefore likely that this drawing is subsequent to the sale and that it is a proposal to unify the design of the two vineyards nto a whole formal garden. The new paths, traced in black chalk, follow the direction of those of the Vigna Carafa, parallel to Via Pia. Paola Zampa (Zampa 2013), who analyses the emendations in the corners of the fortified wall in detail, argues that its outline was most likely modified after the acquisition of another garden, the Vigna Grimani, purchased by Urban VIII on 12 June 1625. The modified profile of the northern wall, drawn on a strip of paper glued on to the drawing, is probably a result of this enlargement, as well as the southern wall protruding into Via Pia, sketched in black chalk. LITERATURE: Wasserman 1963; Coffin 1979, 202–213; Fagiolo 1998; Frommel 1999; Colalucci 2002; Frommel 2002; Colalucci 2013; Zampa 2013; Guidoboni, Marinelli 2013 OTHER DRAWINGS: plans showing the modifications of the properties and of the design of the gardens on Quirinal Hill during the 16th century include: Isola Borromeo, AB, Album Borromeo, fols. 86 and 164v, Anon. draughtsman [G. A. Galvani?], c. 1599; Madrid, BN, B 16-49, f. 21r, G. V. Casale, c. 1585; New York, Metropolitan, Scholz Scrapbook, inv. No. 49.92.8, Anon. French draughtsman, c. 1560-1570; Rome, San Luca, Fondo Mascarino no. 2467, workshop of Giovanni Fontana, c. 1589. See also Cat. nos. 153 and 154 [end]

Collection

Geographical origin

MaterialPaper