Plate 12: The Resurrection, after a lost fresco in the basamento of Bay 13 of the Vatican Loggia
Original title: Plate 12: The Resurrection, after a lost fresco in the basamento of Bay 13 of the Vatican Loggia
kurzbeschreibung
Pietro Santi Bartoli made this etching between 1650 and 1677. It shows the Resurrection of Christ, reproduced after a fresco in the base of Bay 13 of the Vatican Loggia that is now lost. Bartoli's print thus preserves an important Renaissance work as a reproductive engraving.
Description
Christ rises from an open sarcophagus, holding a cross-staff in his right hand. The layout is broad: on the left stand three veiled women looking toward him, while on the right several men appear in dispute. The folds and movements of the figures are captured precisely, giving the sheet liveliness. Light and dark shading alternate, creating a sense of space.
Context
This etching belongs to a 17th-century series reproducing frescoes from the Vatican Loggia, executed by Raphael and his workshop. Since the original in Bay 13 does not survive, Bartoli's print is considered an important source for knowledge of that work. The artist was a Roman engraver who devoted himself to reproducing ancient and Renaissance art.
Impact
The clear linework and the pressing arrangement of the figures make the sheet immediately legible. Christ's calm majesty contrasts with the agitated figures at the sides, producing a tense pictorial dynamic. Because the execution remains monochrome, the compositional and narrative features stand out clearly.
Technique
The print was made by intaglio on paper, with the lines first etched into a metal plate. Fine hatching and the alternation of light and dark areas attest to a sure hand with the needle. The landscape format measures 9.2 × 24 cm, matching the usual trim of a print series.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)