Title: Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Ecclesia S. Pauli in Via Ostiensi)
Artist/Publisher: Giacomo Lauro (Romanus) Series: Antiquae Urbis Splendor (Splendour of the Ancient City), Plate 110 Date: c. 1612–1640s (later hand color) Place: Rome
Description: Hand-colored architectural view of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on the Ostian Way in Rome, from Giacomo Lauro’s celebrated topographical series. The composition shows the basilican volumes with clerestory windows and terracotta roofs, a fortified gate tower, long arcaded portico, and a domed apse. Pilgrims and riders animate the foreground approach, while the engraved Latin title runs along the top and a dense caption below recounts the church’s early Christian foundations, relics, and indulgences. This image records the complex before the 19th-century fire and reconstruction, making it a desirable historical reference for the site.
Why it’s special: • Early Rome view by a noted 17th-century topographer • Rich, period hand-coloring • Captures San Paolo fuori le Mura prior to 19th-century alterations
A charming piece of history that would make a great gift for anyone interested in history, Rome or the Catholic Church.
.: Materials: cotton and polyester composite (canvas), pine wood (frame) .: Comes in 60 different sizes (including vertical and horizontal orientations) .: Horizontal, vertical and square options available .: Soft rubber dots on bottom back corners for support .: Back hanging included .: Inner frame made with radiata pine sourced from renewable forests .: Please note: Due to the production process of the canvases, please allow for slight size deviations with a tolerance +/- 1/8" (3.2mm)
