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Mythology & Putti

Mythology & Putti

MARCANTONIO RAIMONDI (C. 1480-1534)

Hercules and Antaeus

c.1520-1525

Engraving | 30.7 x 21.4 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 851837

An engraving after a design the authorship of which is disputed. Signed with empty tablet at lower left.

Some scholars support the traditional attribution to Raphael (Oberhuber/Gnann 1999), whereas others have suggested that the composition may be based on a drawing by Giulio Romano (Shoemaker/Broun 1981; Raphael Invenit 1985). The composition was also reproduced (in reverse) in a chiaroscuro woodcut by Ugo da Carpi (RCIN 851839), generally believed to have been based upon the engraving by Raimondi. This view was challenged by Gnann (Oberhuber/Gnann 1999, no.49) who suggested that Ugo’s chiaroscuro may have actually served as modello for Marcantonio’s engraving. Suggestions have also been made that both prints may derive from the same original design (Raphael Invenit 1985, p.248, no.VII.3).

A 2nd Century BC sculpture of 'Hercules and Antaeus', previously in the Vatican Belvedere and now in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence (inv. Pitti, OdA, 1911, n. 607), is commonly believed to have been the source for the figures in the engraving (Shoemaker/Broun 1981).

An engraving of the same subject by Agostino Veneziano (probably a copy after the print by Raimondi) can be found at RCIN 851838.
  • Creator(s)

    Marcantonio Raimondi (c. 1480-1534) (engraver)

    After a work previously attributed to Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (designer)

  • 30.7 x 21.4 cm (sheet of paper)

  • Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)

  • Subject(s)
    • Language, Linguistics and Literature
      • Literature
        • Fiction
          • Tales & legends
            • Myths
    • Religion & Theology
      • Religions and faiths
        • Religions of antiquity
          • Classical mythology
            • Hercules
  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    pp.162-4, no.51 (entry by Innis H. Shoemaker) (Shoemaker/Broun 1981 : I. Shoemaker and E. Broun. The Engravings of Marcantonio Raimondi 1981 : Spencer Museum of Art; The Ackland Art Museum, 1981)
    p.248, no.VII.1 (Raphael Invenit 1985 : Bernini Pezzini, G. et al., 1985. Raphael Invenit. Stampe di Raffaello nelle Collezioni dell'Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica, Rome)
    p.111, no.50 (Oberhuber/Gnann 1999 : Roma e lo stile classico di Raffaello, 1515-1527 / a cura di Konrad Oberhuber ; catalogo di Achim Gnann, 1999)
    p.122, under no.16 (entry by Tania Previdi) (Ugo da Carpi 2009 : Ugo da Carpi, l'opera incisa : xilografie e chiaroscuri da Tiziano, Raffaello e Parmigianino / a cura di Manuela Rossi, 2009)