ENGRAVED PORTRAIT OF VOLTA WITH HIS INVENTIONS,
THE VOLTAIC PILE & HIS CROWN OF CUPS BATTERY DISPLAYED IN THE BACKGROUND

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VOLTA, Alessandro; RADOS, LUIGI.

Engraved portrait of Volta by Luigi Rados after Roberto Focosi.

Milan, Editore Proprietario Luigi Rados, 1828.

Stipple engraving (53 x 41.8 cm, platemark 49.6 x 37.4 cm). Engraved caption below the image, artist “Roberto Focosi disegnò” on the lower left and engraver “Luigi Rados incise 1828” on the lower right; below caption and following the imprint, the engraved text “In segno di venerazione Luigi Rados D.D.D.” Strong, crisp impression. Excellent.

Separately published, fine stipple engraved portrait of Alessandro Volta, likely executed shortly after his death. Volta is depicted seated at a table, his left hand concealed within his coat and his right resting on the surface. To his right, an example of his “crown of cups” battery is prominently displayed, while behind him sits a Voltaic pile. A seven-line caption in Italian provides a concise overview of Volta’s significant contributions to the field of electricity. Volta, renowned as the inventor of the first electric battery, published his inaugural paper on this groundbreaking device in 1800. His meticulous investigations conclusively established the equivalence of Galvani’s so-called “animal” electricity and the electricity generated by Volta’s apparatus. The Voltaic pile served as a catalyst for a series of pivotal experiments that culminated in the decomposition of water, the electro-deposition of metals, and the creation of the electromagnet, thereby ushering in the modern era of electricity.

Luigi Rados (1773-1840), the engraver and printmaker, was born in Parma and studied at the Academy in Milan. He was known for works on religious subjects, portraits, and genre scenes. His son Eugenio was a sculptor active in Milan, and another son, Giovanni, was an engraver of portraits active in the mid-19^th century.

We can locate only one other copy on OCLC, at the Wellcome Library in London. (This OCLC record gives the following reference: R. Burgess, Portraits of doctors & scientists in the Wellcome Institute, London 1973, no. 3083.2, but we have not been able to access this documentation.)

The full caption reads: “Alessandro Volta. Nato nel 1745 in Como da patrizia famiglia, in giovanile età diè alto segno di essere inclinato alle fisiche discipline. Occupandosi specialmente dell’ elettricità, mise alla luce interessantissime memorie piene di utili scoperte elettriche. Inventore della meravigliosa pila detta Voltiana procurò con questa immensi vantaggi alla fisica ed alla chimica, rendendosi per ogni dove immortale sino a che si avranno a pregio le fisiche dottrine. Viaggiando l’Europa fu onorato ed accolto dai primi illustri fisici e filosofi e particolarmente dall’ Impre. Giuseppe II. I suoi talenti gli meritarono d’essere decorato di due ordini, fatto Conte e quindi Senatore; coprì con plauso cattedre le più distinte ed ammirato da estere potenze gli decretarono il conio di due medaglie; nè fra lo splendore di tanta gloria ci perdè quella modestia propria dell’ uomo saggio che lo rese caro alla patria ai parenti ed alla moglie nel di cui seno spirò li 5 Marzo del 1827. Dedicato all’ Illustrissimo Signor, Marchese Febo D’Adda, Vice Presidente di Governo, Cavaliere dell’ I.R. Ordine di Leopoldo, Ciambellano attuale di S.M.I.R.A. l’Imperatore d’Austria ecc. ecc. ecc.”

Translation: “Alessandro Volta. Born in 1745 in Como to a patrician family, at a young age he showed clear signs of being inclined towards the physical sciences. Working especially with electricity, he brought to light very interesting publications full of useful electrical discoveries. Inventor of the marvelous battery called voltiana, he provided immense advantages to physics and chemistry, making himself immortal wherever the physical sciences were valued. Traveling around Europe, he was honored and welcomed by the most illustrious physicists and philosophers and particularly by Emperor Joseph II. His talents merited that he be decorated with two orders, Count and then Senator; he received plaudits from the most distinguished professors and, admired by foreign powers, they decreed that two medals be minted in his honor; nor among the splendor of such glory did he lose that modesty typical of the wise man which made him dear to his country, to his relatives and to his wife, in whose bosom he died on 5 March 1827. Dedicated to the Most Illustrious Lord, Marquis Febo D'Adda, Vice President of Government, Knight of the Imperial Order of Leopold, current Chamberlain of S.M.I.R.A. the Emperor of Austria, etc. etc. etc.”

* Benezit, vol. 8, p. 573 (Rados); no entry for Focosi.

Price: $2,950.00