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The Seconda Macchina for the Chinea of 1773: The Preparation of Theriac in Venice

Giuseppe Vasi

1773

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Architectural

Dominant colour

The Seconda Macchina for the Chinea of 1773: The Preparation of Theriac in Venice is a 1773 ink by Giuseppe Vasi, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Giuseppe Vasi
When & what style?: 1773 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a giant, ornate stage set up in a public square. The centerpiece is a tall, boxy building with columns, statues, and a small tower on top. Around it, people in old-fashioned clothes mill about, some carrying tools or boxes, while others watch from the sides. The whole scene looks like a mix of a theater set and a real building, with lots of tiny details like vases, flags, and even a boat on the right. The text at the bottom hints this was built for a special event in Venice in 1773. The crowd and the stage suggest it was meant to impress or celebrate something big—maybe a festival or a royal visit. Look up etching to see how artists like Vasi carved these sharp, precise lines into metal.