[Antique print, etching] Madonna della scodella, published 1606, 1 p.

Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) published by Nicolaus van Aelst (1526?-1613)

About this Item

The Madonna, seated with the infant Christ on her lap, holds a bowl for the infant Baptist to drink from; S. Anne watches from behind with a hand raised.The preparatory drawing is at the Louvre (ex coll. Mariette, Inv. 7142).First engraving realized by Annibale Carracci after 1600, showing the signs of a renewed approach to engraving. Remarkable is in fact the strong chiaroscuro, emphasized by the hatched background against which are disposed the sculpted figures. Although the figures are engaged in simple and natural activities, the composition is carefully studied and masterfully engraved with regular hatchings and signs.This composition became immediately highly popular as its numerous copies testify (seventeen are documented).From the second state the name of the publisher was added, Nicolaes van Aelst, publisher active in Brussels and Rome. In the latter city he had a workshop in via della Pace from 1582 to 1613. Three states of this print are documented, however the exemplar at the Museum in Bologna (Inv. 4730) is suggested to be a fourth state. Signed above right: 'Annib. Carracius in./ et fecit. 1606./ Nico van Aelst for.' Etching and engraving on laid paper with a vague circular watermark, small margins; platemark: 123 x 161 mm, total: 125 x 163 mm; state III/3 (or III/4); warn out plate on the corners; on the verso cifres in characoal, top right and left corner restored, lower left margin also; selected literature: Bartsch (1818), XVIII vol., p.186, n. 9; Le Blanc (1854), p. 606, n. 6; Nagler (1858) p. 458, n. 1053; The Illustrated Bartsch (1980), p. 395, 9-I (186) and (1996), 39 (2 Comm.), p. 256,n. 3906.020. Seller Inventory # 60537

Bibliographic Details

Title: [Antique print, etching] Madonna della ...