The Calcografia Nazionale (or Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica) is housed in the historic building Palazzo Poli in the Via della Stamperia in Rome. The “National Institute of Graphic Design” has the largest collection of engravings in the world.
Calcografia Nazionale Rome
The organization has been in existence since 1738, but the building itself was designed a century later by Valadier.
The collection of the Calcografia is the largest in the world. There are works by both famous Italian (including Piranesi, who was famous for his Roman cityscapes, but especially for his series of 16 imaginary prisons) and foreign (e.g. Ingres) artists. However, the old copper plates are never used, nor are modern engravings produced.
An exhibition is organized only very rarely and in general the works of art can be viewed only by scholars. Generally the only possibility to see at least some items is when they are on loan to other museums for special exhibitions.
“St. Paul Preaching in Athens” is a 16th century engraving by Giorgio Ghisi, after a drawing made by another, unknown artist of Raphael’s famous fresco in the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Museums. It can be seen in the “Vasari and Rome” exhibition in the Capitoline Museums (until July 19th, 2026).
Useful information
The address is Via della Stamperia, 6, but the entrance is in Via Poli, 54. Unfortunately, the building cannot normally be visited by the general public.
Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica Rome
Sources
- Armando Ravaglioli, Capire e vedere Roma (1980).
- Royal Collection Trust article about Ghisi’s “School of Athens”.
- Photos are my own.
Leave a Reply