Bisschop ten hemel stijgend en omringd door vier engelen

About this artwork

Naar de koepeldecoraties door Correggio in de S. Giovanni Evangelista in Parma. Op een blad geplakt.

Art Historical Context

Behold the ethereal etching *Bisschop ten hem stijgend en omring door vier engelen*Bishop Ascending to Heaven Surrounded by Four Angels) by Sisto Badal, a masterful Italian engraver and painter active in the early Baroque era (c. 1585–1647). This intricate print captures a bishop's triumphant ascent amid swirling angels, evoking divine glory and spiritual ecstasy. Mounted on a sheet for preservation, it measures a modest 270 mm high by 207 mm wide, yet packs a monumental sense of movement and light. Badalocchio's work is a faithful reproduction of Antonio da Correggio's famed dome frescoes in the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista in Parma, Italy, created around 1520–1523. Correggio, a High Renaissance innovator, pioneered illusionistic dome decorations that made heavens appear to burst open overhead, blending perspective, foreshortening, and soft sfumato for breathtaking realism. By etching this scene, Badalocchio bridged the gap between elite frescoes and broader audiences, a key practice in the 17th century when prints democratized art. Etching's fine lines and tonal depth allowed Badalocchio to mimic Correggio's luminous grace, highlighting the era's fascination with celestial visions in Counter-Reformation art. This piece invites us to ponder faith's upward soar, a timeless emblem of Baroque drama preserved for modern eyes.

About the Artist

Sisto Badalocchio · 1585–1647

Comment on works: Religious