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Paolo Posi

Design for a Temporary Façade, possibly for the Festa della Chinea of 1766

Origin

Italy

Period

18th Century

Materials

Pen and brown ink with gray wash over black chalk on cream paper; ruled double border in brown ink

Dimensions

W.	19 in;	H.	15 in;
W.	48.26 cm;	H.	38.1 cm;

Description

Dimensions Framed: 22" high x 29" wide

A notable Italian architect, Posi studied at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome, where he won the Concorso Clementino in 1728 with a design for a church and convent. His professional career began in 1732, when he became architect to the Colonna family, succeeding Gabriele Valvassori; he completed the restoration of the Palazzo Colonna, which had begun in 1731 by Niccolo Michetti and Gaetano Chiaveri. This position, however, established him more as a designer than as an architect; he was better known for his numerous monuments and stage designs. Posi became accomplished in developing decorative compositions within an architectural framework. He also held the post of architect to the apostolic palaces and to St. Peter’s. During the 1750’s and 1760’s, he designed the Presentation of the Chinea, an important annual tribute from the Colonna family to the Pope, celebrated with fireworks.
This drawing is related to the decoration of the façade of the Palazzo Spada on Piazza Colonna for the festivities of 20 September 1761 in honor of Cardinal Rezzonico, nephew of Pope Clement XIII. The festivities were commissioned by Cardinal Ignazio Crivelli. The temporary façade was recorded in a print by Giuseppe Vasi dedicated to Cardinal Rezzonico. The print is based on a drawing of the square by Giuseppe Palazzi and bears another dedication by the inventor of the composition Paolo
Posi: “In segno del suo profondo rispetto Paolo Posi Arch.”

Styles / Movements

Other

Dealer Reference Number

WOP 18-22

Incollect Reference Number

152155