Passeri, Giambattista "Plate 118." From "Picturae Etruscorum in Vasculis"

Giambattista Passeri. Plate 118.  From Picturae Etruscorum in Vasculis. 

Rome, 1770. Engraving. ca 12 1/2 x 8.  Very good condition. 

Epitomizing eighteenth-century fascination with antiquities this print was taken from Giambattista Passeri's famed collection of antique Etruscan pottery. As Abbate of Pasero, he was one of the most well-known and enthusiastic collectors of ancient terra cotta. A prolific scholar, Passeri published a book of the designs found on the objects he purchased, and the result was an exceptionally striking group of prints showcasing classic themes of ancient Etruscan and Roman design.