Artwork

The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1756: A Triumphal Arch between Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius

The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1756: A Triumphal Arch between Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Giuseppe Pozzi. It dates from 1756 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:Lettered LL: "Paolo Posi Architetto" Lettered LR: "Giuseppe Pozzi incise" Lettered LC: "Disegno della prima Machina rappresentante Magnifico Arco Trionfale inalzato fra i due Vulcani Etna e Vessuvio [...] l'Anno 1756"

About this work

Overview

Giuseppe Pozzi’s 1756 etching, titled The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1756: A Triumphal Arch between Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius, presents a monumental arch set against a dramatic volcanic landscape. The composition balances architectural splendor with the natural power of Etna and Vesuvius, while a bustling foreground of figures and animals adds narrative depth.

Subject & Meaning

The work celebrates a ceremonial chinea, a tribute sent by the Kingdom of Naples to the Pope, by framing the tribute within a triumphal arch. By positioning the arch between two iconic volcanoes, Pozzi juxtaposes human ceremony with the volatile forces of the region, suggesting both the grandeur of the event and the ever‑present natural drama of southern Italy.

Technique & Style

Executed in fine etching, Pozzi achieves a layered sense of space through delicate line work and cross‑hatching that render the cloudy sky, the smoky peaks, and the intricate sculptural details of the arch. The medium allows subtle tonal variations, giving texture to stone, fabric, and animal fur, and guiding the eye from foreground activity to the distant volcanic horizon.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑18th century, the print was likely produced to commemorate the 1756 chinea procession, a diplomatic exchange between Naples and the Holy See. While the original plate’s whereabouts remain undocumented, surviving impressions have circulated among collectors of Italian prints and are now held in several European museum collections.