(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.