12. Dominique Barrière
(ca. 1615-1678)
View of the Town of Frascati (Civitatis Tusculanae)

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Barrière, View of the Town

View of the Town of Frascati (Civitatis Tusculanae)

Etching, 1647, from the set Villa Aldobrandini, Robert-Dumesnil 147, 273 x 402 mm. Fine, clear impression on fairly thick laid paper, trimmed on the platemark but outside the borderline and with the full text below; a slightly disturbing vertical center fold, split at the very bottom. The view was meant to show the Villa Aldobrandini (on the hill at the right) in its greater topographical setting. Frascati (the ancient town was Tusculum) is located southeast of Rome in the Alban Hills. Though the intent here is topographical, the etching has aesthetic quality because Barrière was an artist, not a cartographer. The view is sufficiently poetic as to call up memories from those who have been there and put ideas into the heads of those who have not.