Giovanni Battista Cavalieri-Massacre of Innocents-16th Engraving after Raphael For Sale

Giovanni Battista de\' Cavalieri-Massacre ofInnocents-16th Engraving after Raphael

An original late 16th-century engraving by Italianengraver Giovanni Battista de\' Cavalieri (ca. 1525–1601), after MarcantonioRaimondi and ultimately after an invention by Raphael, depicting the Massacreof the Innocents. The composition follows Raimondi\'s celebrated versiontraditionally distinguished as the variant \"without the fir tree (BartschXIV.21.20),\" preserving the inscription RAPHA / URBI / INVEN / MAF andreproducing the dramatic arrangement of figures against a Roman architecturalsetting.

Giovanni Battista de\' Cavalieri was an Italian engraver,draftsman, and publisher active primarily in Rome during the second half of the16th century. His extensive graphic production included reproductive engravingsafter many of the major masters of the Renaissance, and his work formed part ofthe flourishing Roman market for engraved interpretations and republications ofcelebrated compositions by Raphael, Michelangelo, and their followers.

The publishing history of this impression is particularlyinteresting. Raphael Invenit describes a sequence in which Cavalieri\'sengraver inscription was added in the second state, Lafreri\'s publishingaddress appeared in the third, and both Cavalieri\'s and Lafreri\'s names weresubsequently erased in the fourth. The present impression retains the earlierCavalieri and Lafreri inscriptions while additionally carrying the addressPetri de Nobilibus Formis. It therefore appears to represent a later De Nobilireissue intermediate between the catalogued third and fourth states rather thanone of the standard numbered states described in the catalogue. The De Nobiliaddress, together with the shield-shaped watermark containing the letter M anda star, supports a probable late-1580s printing, approximately 1585–1589.Impressions with this combination of publisher inscriptions are rarelyencountered on the market.

The print is in poor condition. The sheet has overallcoloration, staining, soiling, scattered foxing, and handling wear. It has beentrimmed inside the platemark. There are minor tears, losses, and wear along theedges. A prominent vertical center fold has multiple vertical and horizontaltears and associated weakness. There is damage in the area of the left shin ofthe standing swordsman at left, together with additional localized losses andabrasions elsewhere. Major damaged areas and tears have been stabilized fromthe verso with kozo paper. Adhesive and previous mounting residues are presenton the verso. An ink inscription resembling the number \"2\" appears onthe recto. Despite the extensive condition issues, the principal compositionand publisher inscriptions remain substantially legible. Unframed. Please referto the pictures for condition.

Details:

• Artist: Giovanni Battista de\' Cavalieri (ca.1525–1601), after Marcantonio Raimondi, after Raphael

• Title: The Massacre of the Innocents

• Date: Late 16th century, probably ca. 1585–1589

• Medium: Engraving on laid paper

• State: Intermediate De Nobili reissue between thecatalogued third and fourth states

• Catalogue Raisonné:

- Massari etal., Raphael Invenit, 1985, entry 5, p. 173

• Publishers:

- AntonioLafreri, earlier address retained

- Pietro de\'Nobili, later address added

• Inscriptions:

- RAPHA / URBI /INVEN / MAF

- Ant. Lafrery

- Petri deNobilibus Formis

• Watermark: Shield containing the letter M beneath astar

• Dimensions:

- Paper:approximately 16 x 11 in

• Framing: Unframed

• Condition: Poor, with overall coloration, staining,soiling, scattered foxing, trimming inside the platemark, edge tears and wear,extensive damage along the central vertical fold with associated horizontal andvertical tears, localized losses including damage near the left swordsman\'sshin, old mounting and adhesive residues, and major damaged areas stabilized onthe verso with kozo paper. Ink inscription resembling \"2\" on recto.Please refer to the pictures for condition.

Disclaimer:

I have conducted thorough research to ensure the accuracyand authenticity of this work to the best of my ability. However, it is sold asis, with no guarantees or warranties regarding its provenance or historicalattribution.