Beschreibung:

POSI, Paolo (1707-1776) and others. The Presentation of the Chinea -- a collection of plates celebrating the ceremonies surrounding the gift of the Chinea. Rome: 1728-1775. Broadsheets (470 x 610mm. and smaller). 53 engraved plates by Giuseppe Vasi Giuseppe Pozzi and others after Paolo Posi Michel Angelo Specchi and others. Most sheets with original vertical fold. (Light browning and some small tears, 10 plates with more obtrusive staining, one plate heavily browned and backed onto linen.) Modern red cloth fall-down-back box. A very rare collection of prints recording the annual presentation, during the feast of St.Peter and St.Paul (June 29th), of the traditional tribute of a single white horse (the Chinea) from the King of Naples, via the Colonna family, to the Pope. The presentation was accompanied by fireworks both on the evening before and on the night of the feast day. It seems that three plates were produced annually: two of the fireworks and one of the 'set' built for the presentation itself. The majority of the plates in the present collection show the structures erected for firework displays, most designed by Paolo Posi the architect to the Colonna family. Posi succeeded Gabriele Valvassori (his work is also represented in the collection) as the Colonna's architect in 1732, but 1751 is the first year in which his work is represented here. His contributions continued right up until 1775, six months before his death on 3 January 1776. The collection includes at least one plate from the festivities in the following years 1728, 1731-33, 1738, 1745, 1747-8, 1750-1775. Cf. Berlin Kat. 3069 (47 plates dated between 1731-1785). (53)