Commissioned and designed Paolo Posi's fireworks machines for the homage to the Chinea: from Fabrizio IV to Lorenzo Onofrio II Colonna (1751–1775)
Abstract
This article examines the Chinea, the annual tribute from the King of the Two Sicilies to the Pope, through the ephemeral machine staged in Rome during the eighteenth century.
The study focuses on the transition of patronage between Fabrizio IV Colonna and Lorenzo Onofrio II Colonna, highlighting how the patron shaped the choice of iconographic programs. Fabrizio IV’s machines (1751–1755) celebrated the sovereign, his achievements, and royal authority through historical references, allegorical imagery, and the commemoration of major projects such as the Reggia di Caserta, the Acquedotto Carolino, and the excavations at Herculaneum. Under Lorenzo Onofrio II (1756–1775), a clear thematic dualism emerges: the first day emphasizes classical symbols and royal power, while the second day foregrounds conviviality, spectacle, and accessibility for the general public
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