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Signed Design for a Façade, possibly for the Festa della Chinea of 1766

Creator: Paolo Posi
Offered by: L' Antiquaire & The Connoisseur, Inc.

Description
Signed and dated in brown ink on lower right of recto: Paolo Posi Invenit 1766
Size Framed: 22" high x 29" wide

A notable Italian architect, Posi studied at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome, where he won the Concorso Clementino in 1728 with a design for a church and convent. His professional career began in 1732, when he became architect to the Colonna family, succeeding Gabriele Valvassori; he completed the restoration of the Palazzo Colonna, which had begun in 1731 by Niccolo Michetti and Gaetano Chiaveri. This, however, established him more as a designer than as an architect; he was better known for his numerous monuments and stage designs. Posi became accomplished in developing decorative compositions within an architectural framework. He also held the post of architect to the apostolic palaces and to St. Peter’s. During the 1750’s and 1760’s, he designed the Presentation of the Chinea, an important annual tribute from the Colonna family to the Pope, celebrated with fireworks.
These drawings are related to the decoration of the façade of the Palazzo Spada on Piazza Colonna for the festivities of 20 September 1761 in honor of Cardinal Rezzonico, nephew of Pope Clement XIII. The festivities were commissioned by Cardinal Ignazio Crivelli. The temporary façade was recorded in a print by Giuseppe Vasi dedicated to Cardinal Rezzonico. The print is based on a drawing of the square by Giuseppe Palazzi and bears another dedication by the inventor of the composition Paolo Posi: “In segno del suo profondo rispetto Paolo Posi Arch.”

More Information

Origin:	Italy
Period:	19th Century
Materials:	Pen and brown ink with brown and gray wash over black chalk on cream paper; ruled double border in brown ink
Styles / Movements:	Other
Book References:	M. Gori Sassoli, Della Chinea e di altre’Macchine di gioia, Apparati architettonici per fuochi d’artificio a Roma nel Settecento, Rome, 1994, p. 47, n. 113.
Dealer Reference #:	WOP 18-21
Incollect Reference #:	152146

Dimensions

W.	22.5 in;	H.	16.5 in;
W.	57.15 cm;	H.	41.91 cm;

Message from Seller:

The gallery deals in European works of art, antiques and paintings from antiquity to the end of the eighteenth century. Under Mrs. Fioratti's direction, the gallery has continued to supply works of art to museums across America and Europe. She has designed interiors in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Mrs. Fioratti has worked on architectural restorations, and restored a 10th century village near Siena.