Tempel van Jupiter Stator - Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi

A seventeenth-century etching by Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi documenting the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter Stator in Rome.

This etching, published by the Roman printmaker Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi, depicts the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter Stator as they appeared in the seventeenth century. The composition focuses on the remaining columns, which stand as a solitary architectural fragment against the backdrop of the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. The print belongs to a broader tradition of Roman topographical documentation, where artists sought to capture the physical state of ancient monuments for scholars and travellers on the Grand Tour.

The technique employs fine hatching to define the textures of weathered stone and the surrounding vegetation. The foreground includes small figures, which provide a sense of scale to the massive ruins. The inclusion of descriptive text at the base of the image is characteristic of the period, offering historical context and identifying specific features such as the site of the House of Cicero. The work reflects the seventeenth-century interest in classical antiquity, presenting the site not as a pristine monument, but as a site of decay and historical layering.

Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi operated one of the most prolific printing houses in Rome, known for its extensive collection of maps and architectural views. This print is an example of the meticulous documentation produced by his workshop, which served to preserve the appearance of Rome during a period of significant archaeological interest. The print captures the intersection of classical history and the contemporary reality of the city, where ancient structures were often integrated into the daily life of the populace, as evidenced by the presence of livestock and figures within the ruins.