Nilvs — The River Nile Personified

Article description

Original copper-engraving. A monumental engraving after the celebrated Hellenistic marble Nile in the Vatican, one of the most admired ancient sculptures in Rome. The river god reclines massively, leaning against a sphinx, a cornucopia of fruits cascading at his right; sixteen putti swarm over and around him, each representing one cubit of the Nile's annual flood — the full sixteen cubits signifying perfect inundation and abundance. The elaborate decorative border teems with exotic Nile fauna: crocodiles, hippopotamuses, ibises, and lush river vegetation. The large Latin inscription in the upper left, in roman capitals, identifies and explains the monument in learned humanist prose and verse, beginning "Veterum Monumentorum Studiose Lector..." — addressing the studious reader of ancient monuments. The lower right carries Lafreri's own imprint (Ant. Lafreri. Aenea...), confirming publication within the Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae, his landmark anthology of prints after ancient Roman sculpture and monuments. A fine, sharp impression with rich contrasts and well-preserved detail throughout, on sturdy laid paper — consistent with an early printing during Lafreri's own active years in Rome. Verso with old collector's stams. Overall in very good to excellent condition.

Engraving of a Roman godness