The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1760: The Temple of Neptune
1760
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1760
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a grand, imaginary temple with tall columns and two towering obelisks on either side. In front, waves crash against rocks while ships sail in the background. People and animals are gathered below, some pulling carts loaded with objects. The temple’s roof has statues, and the whole scene looks like a mix of real and made-up architecture. The text at the bottom explains this was built for a special event in 1760, but the details are too long to read here. Notice how the artist used shading to make the scene look three-dimensional. Want to see more like this? Look up etching to learn how artists create prints like this one.
