Descrizione Delle Prime Scoperte Dell'Antica Città d'Ercolano Ritrovata vicino a Portici, Villa della Maestà Del Re Delle Due Sicilie
A 1749 Italian archaeological account by Marcello de' Venuti describing the first discoveries at ancient Herculaneum near Portici, published for the Neapolitan court. Its four ornamental headpieces and tailpiece are letterpress woodcut vignettes, with a classical bust in a scrolled cartouche, a shell crest, a floral finial and an Aurora figure with wings and a sunrise. A designer could draw on their symmetrical acanthus scrollwork, shell motifs and compact emblem framing for period-style headers and borders.
