Monday, April 10, 2017

Agostino Veneziano, Roman Engraver

Agostino Veneziano after Marcantonio Raimondi
Venus and Cupid
engraving
ca. 1515-30
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano after Raphael
Recumbent River God
engraving
ca. 1510-20
British Museum

"Now the name of Marcantonio [Raimondi] having grown very great, and the art of engraving having come into credit and repute, many disciples had placed themselves under him in order to learn it.  And of their number, two who made great proficience were Marco da Ravenna and Agostino Veneziano.  These two engraved and printed many designs by Raphael."

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"After the death of Raphael, Marco and Agostino separated, and Agostino was retained by Baccio Bandinelli, the Florentine sculptor, who caused him to engrave after his design an anatomical figure that he had formed out of lean bodies and dead men's bones; and then a Cleopatra.  Both these were held to be very good plates.  Wherupon, growing in courage, Baccio drew, and caused Agostino to engrave, a large plate  one of the largest, indeed that had ever been engraved up to that time  full of women clothed, and of naked men who are slaughtering the little innocents by command of King Herod."

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"Now Agostino Veneziano, of whom we have already spoken, came to Florence, after the circumstances described above with the intention of attaching himself to Andrea del Sarto, who was held to be about the best painter in Italy after Raphael.  And so Andrea, persuaded by this Agostino to have his work engraved, made a drawing of the Dead Christ supported by three Angels; but since the attempt did not succeed exactly according to his fancy, he would never again allow any work of his to be engraved.  After his death, however, certain persons published engravings of the Visitation of St. Elizabeth and of the Baptism of the people by St. John, taken from the work in chiaroscuro that Andrea painted in the Scalzo at Florence."

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"Marco da Ravenna, likewise, in addition to the works already mentioned, which he executed in company with Agostino, also engraved many others by himself.  Many others, also, have there been after these, who have worked very well at engraving, and have brought it about that every country has been able to see and enjoy the honored labors of the most excellent masters."

– passages relating to pioneer engraver Agostino Veneziano (ca. 1490-ca. 1540) from Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Painters, Sculptors and Architects (1568)

Agostino Veneziano after Marco da Ravenna
Venus and Cupid on dolphins
engraving
ca. 1515-20
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano
Allegorical scene with Venus and Eros
engraving
ca. 1516-20
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano after Raphael and Giulio Romano
Venus and Vulcan with Cupid
engraving
1530
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano after Raphael
St Michael and Demon 
engraving
ca. 1518-27
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano after Raphael
Death of Cleopatra with Cupid weeping
engraving
1528
British Museum
after Vatican marble Cleopatra/Ariadne

Agostino Veneziano
Two old philosophers with books, disputing
engraving
ca. 1515-30
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano
Seated woman with vase
engraving
ca. 1515-30
British Museum

attributed to Agostino Veneziano
Seated man on rock
engraving
ca. 1515-30
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano
Standing woman with vase
engraving
ca. 1515-30
British Museum

attributed to Agostino Veneziano
Seated man with lyre
ca. 1515-30
engraving
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano
Leda and the swan
engraving
ca. 1510-30
British Museum

Agostino Veneziano
Lo Stregozzo (Witches' Procession)
engraving
ca. 1515-25
British Museum