River gods

Etching, circa 1670, numbered at the bottom.

Example in the second state of three, before the letters "A.C. IN." Published in Rome by Vincenzo Billy.

A good impression, printed on contemporary laid paper, with thin margins, in very good condition.

Marcantonio Bellavia was a Sicilian artist, whose place and date of birth are unknown. It can only be established, by documentary evidence, that between the years 1668 and 1670 he was in Rome, where, moreover, he carried out all his activity as a painter and engraver known to us. His activity as an engraver was used by unscrupulous dealers who published, after the artist's death, his prints as works by Annibale Carracci.

A first time, in the early 18th century, Vincenzo Billy published 60 engravings by Bellavia with the indication: Opere diverse di Annibale Carracci. Si stampano da Vincenzo Bellii in Roma all'Orologio alla Chiesa Nova. A(nnibale) C(arracci) I.. But their belonging to Bellavia is unequivocally proved by the appearance in many engravings of his monogram ("M.A.B." and "M.A.B.I.") and in one - the 39th - even of the inscription: "Marcus Antonius, Bellavia in. et pr. Rome." Later Venanzio Monaldini republished 38 engravings by Bellavia, collecting them in a volume entitled: Pensieri diversi lineati et intagliati d'Anibale Caracci. They are sold at V. Monaldini. To all the pieces Monaldini added the letters "A.C. IN."

Bibliografia

M. Pepe, Marcantonio Bellavia, in “Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani” - Volume 7 (1970); cfr. Bartsch, XX, p. 22 - 23, Bartsh ill., v. 44. TBI, 7, p. 619.