Frescos, Ancient World, Cupid, Herculaneum, Ercolano

No title. Two naked little cupids carrying wine amphores

Hand-gouached copper etching

Published in  "Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte"

Naples, 1757-92

Excellent condition. Wide margins

Overall measurement: 23,7 x 32,8 cm (ca. 9.3 x 12.9")

Herculaneum Ercolano

These prints show frescoes and archeologicl treasures found in the ruins of Herculaneum. Herculaneum was totally buried in superheated pyroclastic ash and lava during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD. The town was forgotten until 1710 when the first remains were found. In 1738 Carl von Bourbon, the king of Naples, started a systematic excavation of the area which has continued until the present day. Much of the area cannot be excavated because it lies under the modern town of Ercolano.

Some of the genitals of the original statues have been discreetly covered
by a few lines by the engravers who contributed to this work