Raffaello Schiaminossi after Luca Cambiaso Holy Family 1614 engraving Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
The engraving above, rendered by Raffaello Schiaminossi after an original design by Luca Cambiaso, was issued and distributed by the Roman publisher Pietro Stefanoni early in the 17th century. It featured a magically ambulant and luminous Baby Jesus emerging like a light bulb from deepest shadow. His abandoned cradle reposes at lower right, an item that surely also suggests representations of the infant Hercules leaving his cradle to strangle serpents.
attributed to Michael Bughers Sir Kenelm Digby 17th century engraving National Portrait Gallery, London |
Nicolas de Larmessin after Anthony van Dyck Sir Kenelm Digby engraving 17th century National Portrait Gallery, London |
Jean Couvay Palace of the Faculties of the Soul (Common Sense, Fantasy, Understanding, Will, Memory) engraving 17th century Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Marinus van der Goes after Polidoro da Caravaggio St Jerome with Lion engraving 1630s British Museum |
Francesco Villamena after Federico Barocci Deposition engraving 1606 Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
Francesco Villamena Zephyr carrying Psyche engraving 17th century Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
Francesco Villamena Adam and Eve with the Serpent engraving 1611 Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
Adam Elsheimer Tobias and the Angel engraving 1608 British Museum |
The 17th-century drawings below were created during the planning and preparation stages for plate-cutting and print-making. Painted images from this period are so seductive and dramatic and so abundant that it is now easy to forget what a tiny group of people actually had first-hand access to more than a few newly-painted pictures. Most of the contemporary art that was familiar to most of the people in the 17th century was familiar through prints.
Anonymous Neapolitan artist Christ exorcising demons drawing ca. 1650 British Museum |
Anthony van Dyck Cassandra ravished from the temple drawing ca. 1614-27 British Museum |
Anonymous Dutch artist Circe drawing 17th century British Museum |
Alonso Cano Risen Christ drawing ca. 1645-50 British Museum |
Rembrandt Diana at the bath drawing ca. 1630-31 British Museum |