Pietro del Po, “Temperance”, c.1660, after Domenichino

Pietro del Po (aka Pietro del Pò) (1616–1692)

“Temperance” (aka “La Tempérance”; “Voluptatum Victrix Temperantia vel feros animos moderator”), c.1660 (1647–1688), the final plate from the series of four plates, “The Cardinal Virtues” (TIB 24–27), after the design by Domenichino (aka Domenico Zampieri) (1581–1641) for one of the pendentive frescoes of the cupola of San Carlo ai Catinari (aka Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari [Saints Blaise and Charles at the Bowl-Makers]) in Rome, published in Rome by Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi (aka Giovanni Jacomo de' Rossi; Jo Jacobus de Rubeis) (1627–1691). I understand that there are several preparatory drawings for this print by Del Po at Windsor Castle; see J. Pope-Hennessy 1948, “The Drawings of Domenichino in the Collection of His Majesty the King at Windsor Castle, London”, p. 80, nos. 869–877.

Etching and engraving on heavy laid paper with a small margin around the irregularly shaped platemark and with the centrefold of publication.

Size: (sheet) 77 x 53.5 cm; (irregularly shaped platemark) 67 x 52.1 cm.

Lettered above the image borderline: (left) “Domin Zamperius Bonon ^. Pinx ^. Romæ in Divi/ Caroli ad Catinarios.”; (centre) “VOLVPTATVM ^. VICTRIX . TEMPERANTIA ^. VE . FEROS ^. ANIMOS ^. MODERATVR./ In chamo, et fraæno maxillas corum constringe. ps. 3і./ Io ^. Iacobus de Rubeis Formis Romæ ad Temptū Pacis cū Priu. S. Pont^.”; (right) “Petrus del' Pò delin ^. et sculp.”

State i (of i)

TIB 4510.027 (Paolo Bellini & Richad W. Wallace [eds.] 1990, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Masters of the Seventeenth Century”, vol. 45 [Commentary], New York, Abaris Books, p. 245, cat. no. [4510].027]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (not reproduced): “Female personification of Temperance, with a camel and a unicorn, one of the Four Cardinal Virtues frescoed in the pendentives of C.Carlo ai Catinari in Rome, after Domenichino/ Etching and engraving” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1869-0410-2177).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.65748.

Condition: a strong and well-printed lifetime impression (based on the quality of line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate). There is a restored tear in the margin at lower left and minor surface marks, otherwise the sheet is in a good condition with no significant stains.

I am selling this huge and simply magnificent etching (with engraving) showing a female personification of Temperance (Temperantia) holding palm branch and horse bridle flanked by putti with the interesting inclusion of a camel and a unicorn, for the total cost of AU$640 (currently US$431.49/EUR390.09/GBP328.79 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$640) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this spectacular masterwork rarely seen on the art market, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold