Winged genius seated on a cloud, sounding a trumpet with his left hand extended upwards (after 1628)
Original title: Winged genius seated on a cloud, sounding a trumpet with his left hand extended upwards
kurzbeschreibung
A winged, naked genius sits on a cloud, raising a trumpet in the left hand — this is the subject of an engraving by Cherubino Alberti dating from after 1628. Allegorical imagery and virtuoso linework are tightly interwoven in the print.
Description
A male nude genius with short hair has settled on a cloud. His wings are spread wide, their feather structure picked out in delicate strokes. The left hand pushes a trumpet upward while the right arm reaches out. Clouds built from fine lines fill the surrounding space, and beneath the figure the words "VIRTUTIS PRAEMIUM" appear in elegant lettering.
Context
Cherubino Alberti (1553–1615) was an Italian engraver and painter known for his reproductive prints. This sheet is a reverse copy of an earlier engraving, made after 1628. The Latin motto "VIRTUTIS PRAEMIUM" ("The reward of virtue") makes the allegorical meaning plain: virtue and its recompense are what the image is about.
Impact
At first the print feels calm and elevated, carried by a clear layout and fine hatching. Despite the static seated pose, the hovering genius has an odd momentum of its own, coming from the outspread wings and the lifted trumpet.
Technique
Engraving — recognisable from the precise, even linework and subtle shading. The monochrome range of greys comes from varying the density and direction of the strokes, which model volume and texture.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)