Fight between a putto and a seahorse

Engraving and etching, 1608 circa, without signature, inscribed in upper left '8'.

Example of the second state, with the imprint “Laurentius Vaccarius formis Rome 1608” of Lorenzo Vaccari erased.

The engraving depicts a putto and a seahorse made by Giovanni Andrea Maglioli (active in Rome between 1580 - 1610). Maglioli is an Italian engraver of whom little is known. Active in Rome and Naples in the late 1500s, he is credited with some elaborate engravings featuring putti and fantasy sea animals. Uncatalogued by Bartsch, studied by Nagler and Peter Jessen in the Berlin catalog of ornament engravings. His inventions have often been copied in the past reflecting the popularity of his subjects. The sheet belongs to a series of sea monsters and cherubs in the Mannerist style; the debt to classical sculpture is evident. A putto grasps a trident with his right hand and with the other the mane of the sea monster he is riding in the guise of a horse with its long tail twisted into a spiral. The fine stroke and dense intersection of lines show great technical skill and compositional rendering aimed at enhancing the plasticity of the figures; chiaroscuro contrasts create a silvery tone.

In the 1939 Katalog der Ornamentstichsammlung der Staatlichen Kunstbibliothek Berlin Peter Jessen described a total of four series and several individual prints in Berlin’s possession, which also included a number of imitations, however. In fact, Maglioli’s inventions were frequently copied by different artists, such as Jan Theodoor de Bry, Adam Fuchs and Gabriel Weyer, indicating their great popularity. Apparently, the order of the individual prints in the suites differed greatly, which makes it even more difficult to recognize the stylistical characteristics of the artist’s printed work.

Lorenzo Vaccari's address confirms that the series was printed in Rome.

A superb impression, printed on contemporary laid paper without watermark, with large margins, a light paper crease in the middle, otherwise excellent condition.

Bibliografia

Nagler, Die Monogrammisten I; Berliner Ornamentstichkatalog.