Orazio Farinati's etching, “Descent from the Cross”, 1583, after Paolo Farinati

Orazio Farinati (aka Horazio Farinati) (1558/61–1616/27)

“Descent from the Cross”, 1583, after his father and teacher, Paolo Farinati (aka Paolo Farinato; Paolo Farinata) (1524–1606), published by Gaspare dall'Oglio (fl.1583–1601).

Etching on laid paper trimmed along the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 36.2 x 57.3 cm.

Inscribed on plate at lower edge: (left) “Ho.F. V.F / 158[or 9?]3”; (left of centre) “Gasparo dalolio exc”; (right) “paulus farinatus / inventor”.

Lifetime impression of the only state(?)—based on the crisp quality of the line showing very little wear to the printing plate and by comparison to the impressions held by the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum.

TIB 32(19).2(169) (Henri Zerner [ed.] 1979, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Artists of the Sixteenth Century School of Fontainebleau”, vol. 32, New York, Abaris Books, p. 270); Bartsch XVI.169.2

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“The Deposition with the body of Christ supported by two men and the Holy Women, with St Francis of Assisi kneeling at his feet. 1583 Etching”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1428258&partId=1&searchText=Orazio+Farinati+&page=1)

See also the description offered by the Rijksmuseum:

(Transl.) “The body of Christ is taken from the cross by John the Evangelist, Joseph of Arimatea and Nicodemus. Mary Magdalene kneels at the feet of Christ. Mary is kneeling beside the cross. On the right three men who open the grave for Christ. On the left a group of spectators, possibly the Maria´s.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.65615)

Condition: crisp and richly inked impression with restored printer’s creases, trimmed along the image borderline and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. There are a few tears along the lower edge (restored) otherwise sheet is in a clean condition (i.e. there are stains, foxing or significant signs of use).

I am selling this very large old master etching executed with breathtaking skill and confidence for a total cost of AU$615 (currently US$432.09/EUR385.69/GBP328.13 at the time of 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 impressive masterwork of Renaissance etching—executed around 40 years after Michelangelo put down his brushes after completing “The Last Judgement” in the Sistine Chapel—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