St. Dominic reading

Etching with engraving, circa 1580, without printing details. After Bartolomeo Spranger.

A great impression, printed on contemporary laid paper with "shield with star an letter M" watermark (italian paper of XVI century), trimmed to the platemark, very good conditions.


The work derives from a drawing by Spranger, preserved today in Chicago. The subject was first engraved by Cornelis Cort, with a work made ​​in Rome and dated 1573. Hollstein describes four copy after Cort, all made abroad by A. Wierix, C. Mellan, J. Sadeler, ignoring the existence of this Italian derivation, probably the first in chronological order.

The work, probably made ​​in Venice around 1580 (as evidenced by the watermark), is probably edited by one of the flourishing Venetian printers of the period, such as those of Donato and Luca Bertelli or Nicolò Nelli.

Also possible that this is a proof, forward the name of the publisher, who was to appear along the horizontal line just mentioned in bassoa right, about two inches from the base.

Magnificent example of this rare engraving, unknown to the literature.