Statue of Truth (after Bernini), Pl. CXLII from "Ancient & Modern Statues"

 

Jean-Baptiste de Poilly

 

c. 1704  

engraving 

13 13/16 x 8 9/16" platemark (including text) 

engraver's name inscribed within image border, lower right 

not stated 

Engraved beneath image, within plate: "Statva della verita del cavalier Gio. Lorenzo Bernino / Nel Palazzo Bernino"; "In Roma appresso le Stampe di Domenico de Rossi alla Pace con priuil. del Sommo Pont." 

Philadelphia Museum of Art accession no. 1985-52-26703 

antique-white laid 

published 

Giovanni Domenico de' Rossi, Rome, IT 

24513 

$100.00 

An engraving after the statue by Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), from an album of prints titled Raccolta di Statue antiche e moderne (Collection of Ancient and Modern Statues), published by the Giovanni Domenico de'Rossi publishing house. Truth, in the form a maiden, is seated on a boulder, left foot resting on Earth and the sun held aloft in her right hand. Her gaze moves further upward, the ascending movement suggesting hopefulness, peace, and joy.

Bernini carved "Truth Unveiled by Time" between 1645 and 1652 when he was appointed the principle artist for the papal court in Rome by Pope Urban VIII. Intended to be one of a set of two sculptures adressing truth as realized over time, he only managed the one scupture before being ousted by the incoming Pope Innocent X. Despite this, "Truth Unveiled by Time" remains a celebrated work, and is on view at Galleria Borghese in Rome.

This impression exhibits the usual signs of age, with toning to the paper edges, a few spots of foxing, and hairline tears along the paper edges. The price reflects the condition.