Francesco Faraone Aquila (1676 - 1740)

Francesco Faraone Aquila

Francesco Faraone Aquila was an Italian engraver. In 1690 he moved to Rome where his brother Pietro had been an engraver for several decades in major workshops in the capital. Pope Clement XI gave him an order which has remained his main work - engraving the bas-reliefs of the Antoninus Pius column and its pedestal. Another important work by Francesco Aquila is the engraving of the frescoes of the dome of the Cathedral of Parma by Correggio and the painting of the Vatican chambers. Following the antique taste established in the 18th century, Aquila engraved various Roman classical works: statues, vases and triumphal arches, thus satisfying the demand of mainly foreign visitors, mainly German and English. His portraits of his contemporaries, both painters and clergymen, also enjoyed great popularity.