Michele Lucchese, “The Martyrdom of Saint Laurence”, 1525–1537, after Marcantonio Raimondi and Baccio Bandinelli

Michele Lucchese (aka Michele Crecchi Lucchesi; Michele Greco; Michele Grech) (fl.1534–64) see also the discussion about this engraver in M. Bury’s (2001) “The Print in Italy 1550–1625”, London, British Museum, p. 228.

“The Martyrdom of Saint Laurence”, 1539, after Marcantonio Raimondi’s (1470/82–1527/34) engraving (1490–152) shown in the same direction (see https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200307840), after a drawing by Baccio Bandinelli (1493–1560), initially published in Rome by Antoine Lafréry (aka Antonio Lafreri) (c.1512–1577). This impression was published by Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi (1627–1691) and the Wellcome Collection holds an impression published in 1774 by Carlo Losi (c.1757–[after]1805) (see https://wellcomecollection.org/works/z8xs6a4d).

Engraving on laid paper trimmed along the image borderline and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins

Size: (sheet) 27.6 x 35.5 cm.

Inscribed in plate along lower edge: (left) “M.L cu privilegio”; (on tablet) “BACCIVS/ BRANDIN/ […?] INV/ […?]; (centre) Ant. Lafrerj. Rom; (right) “Gio Bat.de Rossi [….?] Petri de Nobilibus Formis”

TIB 26.104C (Konrad Oberhuber [ed.] 1978, “The illustrated Bartsch: The Works of Marcantonio Raimondi and of his School”, vol. 26, New York, Abaris Books, p. 136, cat. no. 104C).

Condition: a slightly silvery impression with signs of wear to the printing plate (notably at upper right), trimmed along the image borderline and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in a good condition with no tears, folds or significant stains.

I am selling this exceptionally rare, delicately beautiful and large Renaissance period engraving showing the martyrdom by fire grill of Saint Laurence (aka St Lawrence)—one of the seven deacons of Rome martyred in 258 AD during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Valerian—watched by the Roman prefect and two floors of spectators, for AU $603 (currently US $374.70/ EUR 361.58/ GBP 302.20 at the time of posting this print) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $603) as this is my currency. 

If you are interested in purchasing this superb engraving that is seldom seen on the art market, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold

(Attrib.) Michele Lucchese’s engraving, “Tarquinius Priscus Cutting the Whetstone”, 1545, after Polidoro da Caravaggio

(Attrib.) Michele Lucchese (aka Michele Crecchi; Michele Grechi; Michele Greco) (fl.1534–1564), formerly attributed to Nicolas Beatrizet (aka Nicolas Beatricetto) (c.1507–c.1566)

“Tarquinius Priscus Cutting the Whetstone”, 1545, after Polidoro da Caravaggio (aka Polidoro Caldara; Polidoro da Caravagio) (c.1499–1543), possibly relating to a lost façade on Monte Citorio (see the Curator of the BM comment; inv. no. V,8.76), published in Rome by Antonio Salamanca (1478–1562) and later in 1773 (as is the case with this impression) by Carlo Losi (fl.Rome 1757–after 1805).

Engraving on heavy laid paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 36.3 x 47.6 cm; (plate) 24.2 x 40.5 cm; (image borderline) 22.1 x 40.4 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: “EN SCINDIT DVRAM INCONTVSA NOVA CVLA COTEM ... POLLIDOR INVENTOR/ DVM IVBET HOC … [ANT] SALAMANCCHA EXCVDEB 1545/ Romæ apud Carolum Losi 1773.”

State ii (of ii) with the addition of the publication details for Carlo Losi.

Mariette I, p. 257 (as Caldara); Passavant 119 (as Beatrizet); Bianchi D 14 (attributed to Beatrizet).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1871-0429-615.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with wide margins. Beyond a pinhole in each corner of the margin and minor surface dustiness, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, losses, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this rare engraving for AU$376 (currently US$251.32/EUR227.39/GBP200.17 at the time of posting this listing) 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 strong impression showing at left-of-centre, Tarquinius Priscus—by tradition, the fifth king of Rome (reigning between c.616–578 BC)—slicing through a whetstone (tool sharpener) with his knife to demonstrate his divine power, contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that I have previously listed another engraving by Michele Lucchese, “The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence” (c.1520), after Marcantonio Raimondi (and Baccio Bandinelli) that is currently still available: https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2017/02/luccheses-engraving-1539-after.html.

This print has been sold

Etching from the circle of Polidoro da Caravaggio, “Apollo and Diana with Worshippers of the Statue of Niobe”, c1550

Unidentified printmaker from the circle of Polidoro da Caravaggio (aka Polidoro Caldara; Polidoro da Caravagio) (c1499–1543)—possibly Michele Lucchese (aka Michele Crecchi; Michele Grechi; Michele Greco) (fl. 1534–1564) based on stylistic attributes (see for example: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1931-0309-2).

Note that the Master of the Black Eye (fl. 1542–1547) is purported to have executed the first etching after Polidoro da Caravaggio’s fresco of the Niobe frieze (c1540) upon which this fragment of the same composition in reverse direction is based, but this master’s style is very different to the treatment of this etching (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_V-8-74-75).

“Apollo and Diana with Worshippers of the Statue of Niobe”, c1550, after the fresco (c1540) by Polidoro da Caravaggio on the façade of the Palazzo Milesi in Rome. Note that this etching is the right plate in a two-plate composite scene. This plate has been trimmed on the left with loss of the Statue of Niobe to whom the figures leaning to the left are worshipping.

Etching on laid paper, trimmed slightly unevenly with loss of the statue of Niobe on the left. The sheet is backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 16.9 x 41 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (lower left) “PVLIDORO”.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression trimmed unevenly within the image borderline and laid upon a sheet of millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in a very good condition for its age with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this strong etching after a section of Polidoro da Caravaggio’s frieze on the façade of the Palazzo Milesi in Rome, for AU$288 (currently US$196.23/EUR194.10/GBP164.79 at the time of posting this listing) 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 large and visually arresting etching from the mid-1500s, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold