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