Design for the 'prima macchina' of the Chinea of 1748

One of the rare surviving drawings for the decorations of the Chinea, which is directly preparatory to a print by Le Lorrain (Rome, 1976, op. cit., no. 107). Twice a year, on 29 June and 8 September, a tribute was offered by the kingdom of Naples to the Pope. Generally it was presented by a prince of the house of Colonna and the money was carried on a white mule (chinea). This event was the occasion for creating ephemeral decorations (macchine) which were often commissioned from young French artists studying in Rome at the Académie then installed in the Palazzo Mancini. Le Lorrain contributed at least five designs for macchine, in 1744, 1745, 1746, 1747, and 1748. A drawing by Le Lorrain for the Chinea of 1744 was at Christie's, Paris, 23 March 2006, lot 293. It is now in the Louvre (inv. RF 54415).