The Miraculous Draught of Fishes (ca. 1548–52 (?))
Original title: The Miraculous Draught of Fishes
kurzbeschreibung
This etching by Andrea Schiavone (Andrea Meldola) dates from around 1548–52. It presents two separate scenes: at the top, a figure with sheep before a city; below, a group of people in a boat. The sheet belongs to black-and-white printmaking.
Description
At the top, a figure kneels on the ground, surrounded by sheep; behind them rises a city with towers and buildings. Below, a group sits in a boat, a man at the helm gestures, while others sit or kneel in various poses. Another person stands outside the boat, holding an object. The upper area feels calm, the lower more animated. Finely varied lines create depth, contours and shadows; the light is evenly distributed.
Context
Andrea Schiavone, born in Zara around 1510, was a Venetian painter and printmaker influenced by Parmigianino and Titian. This print was made in the mid-16th century, when printmaking gained importance in Venice. The Miraculous Draught of Fishes is a biblical subject from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 5:1–11). Schiavone produced numerous etchings after his own designs and after works by other artists.
Impact
The pairing of a quiet pastoral scene with a lively boat scene creates narrative tension. The delicate linework and graduated grey tones give the sheet a painterly quality typical of Schiavone's prints. The figures turn toward the viewer, creating a sense of closeness and direct address.
Technique
This print is an etching, a process in which lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid. It was printed in black and white; different shades of grey arise from the depth and density of the lines. The fine, precise linear structure is characteristic of 16th-century printmaking.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)