Michelangelo Mercoli’s etching, “Study of a Ram’s Head after Benvenuto Cellini”, 1795

Michelangelo Mercoli (1773–1802)

“Study of a Ram’s Head after Benvenuto Cellini” (descriptive title only) (aka “Tratto da una scultura in bronzo di Benvenuto Cellini Fiorentino” [titled on plate]), 1795, final plate in a series of 20 plates (with the addition of a title plate and dedication plate to Lodovico Galeazzo Busca Arconati Visconti, marchese di Lomagna) after Giocondo Albertolli (1742–1839) in “Miscellanea per i giovani studiosi del disegno .... Parte terza” (Miscellanea for young scholars of drawing .... Third part), 1796, published by Giocondo Albertolli in Milan, page 22. (This book is available to view online or download free of charge from archive.org which also offers detailed information about the publication: https://archive.org/details/gri_33125009355229/page/n9)

Etching on heavy laid paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 57.1 x 44.5 cm; (plate) 38.9 x 28 cm

Numbered on plate at upper right: “Tav. XX.”

Lettered on plate along the lower edge: (left) “Giocondo Albertolli dis.”; (centre) “Tratto da una scultura in bronzo di Benvenuto Cellini Fiorentino.”; (right) “Michelangelo Mercoli inc.”

Condition: crisp, well-inked and faultless impression with full margins in near pristine condition—there is a small tear on the right margin.

I am selling this study of a curiously devilish ram festooned with Dionysian grape leaves and a ribbon—a study that the lettered title advises is based on a bronze by Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1571)—for AU$257 (currently US$183.24EUR161.84/GBP140.21 at the time of posting this print) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this graphically riveting image, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print is available for purchase