The Roman Forum, Campo Vaccino, Antique View by Kern of Darmstadt, circa 1850

This is a view of the Roman Forum, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads DAS FORUM (Campo Vaccino) IN ROM, German for the Forum (Campo Vaccino) in Rome.

The plate looks past the columns and carved bays of a great triumphal arch at the left toward the portico of the Temple of Saturn at the center, its architrave lettered SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS INCENDIO CONSVMTVM RESTITVIT. Three tall Corinthian columns carrying a fragment of entablature stand on their podium at the right, with houses beyond. A storm sky hangs over the ground, figures in cloaks and hats talk at the center, and fallen blocks lie in the foreground.

The engraver's signature G. Kern sc. Darmstadt is engraved at the lower right just below the image. Below the caption the plate carries the house imprint, Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Instit. in Hildbh. at the lower left and Eigenthum d. Verleger at the lower right. The first is the art works of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen, the second reads "property of the publishers." A roman plate number is engraved at the top right.

The sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. Its imprint is that of Meyer's Universum, a serial collection of engraved views with descriptive text, published by Joseph Meyer's Bibliographisches Institut at Hildburghausen from 1833, its plates engraved on steel. The Forum was long known as the Campo Vaccino, the cattle field, after the cattle that grazed among its ruins.

Even age toning. A few small foxing spots in the margin. All four corners read as present in the scan.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.