Tempel van Saturnus en de Tempel van Vespasianus - Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi

A detailed seventeenth-century etching depicting the ruins of the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Vespasian in the Roman Forum.

This etching captures the ruins of the Roman Forum, specifically focusing on the remains of the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Vespasian. Produced by the prolific Roman publisher Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi, the work reflects the seventeenth-century fascination with classical antiquity. The composition presents a view of the Forum as it appeared during the Baroque period, showing the structures partially buried by centuries of accumulated debris and soil.

The print employs precise line work to delineate the architectural elements, such as the surviving columns and entablatures. Figures are scattered throughout the scene, providing a sense of scale against the massive stone remnants. The inclusion of contemporary buildings in the background illustrates the juxtaposition of medieval and Renaissance structures built directly upon or alongside the ancient ruins. The text at the bottom of the plate serves as a descriptive guide, identifying the specific ruins and offering historical commentary on the site as it was understood at the time.

De' Rossi was a central figure in the Roman print trade, operating from the Stamperia de Rossi near the Piazza Navona. His publications were instrumental in disseminating images of Rome to a European audience, documenting both the grandeur of the past and the reality of the city in his own time. This print is a characteristic example of the topographical documentation that informed the Grand Tour experience. It offers a clear, objective record of the site, prioritising clarity of form and historical identification over romanticised interpretation. The etching remains a valuable resource for understanding the physical state of the Roman Forum before the extensive archaeological excavations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.