Artwork

Veduta della Girandola a Castel Sant'Angelo (Fireworks Display over the Castle Sant'Angelo)

Veduta della Girandola a Castel Sant'Angelo (Fireworks Display over the Castle Sant'Angelo) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Adrien Manglard. It dates from 1751 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Markings: Marked:recto: stamped in brown at lower center: Bibliothèque nationale de France (Lugt 408-409); verso: stamped in purple at lower right: B.N. éch. [indecipherable number]

About this work

Overview

Veduta della Girandola a Castel Sant'Angelo is a 1751 print by Adrien Manglard, a French artist trained in Lyon and active in Rome. The work is an etching with engraving and burnishing on laid paper, depicting a nighttime scene with fireworks.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows Castel Sant'Angelo on the right, with fireworks exploding above it, while the Tiber River below is filled with small boats carrying onlookers. The scene captures a festive event, likely a celebration, highlighting the interplay between light, architecture, and the surrounding environment.

Technique & Style

Manglard employed fine lines and varying techniques, including etching, engraving, and burnishing, to achieve depth and dimensionality in the print. The fireworks appear almost three-dimensional against the dark sky, demonstrating the artist's skill in conveying light and atmosphere through black-and-white medium.

History & Provenance

Created in 1751, the print reflects Manglard's established career in Rome, where he attracted commissions from prominent patrons, including European nobility. Although known for marine scenes, this work showcases his ability to capture a different kind of dramatic scene.