Martelaarschap van de tienduizend (eerste deel)

About this artwork

tegendruk van houtsnede

Art Historical Context

Created around 1515–1520 by the Venetian artist Domenico Campagnola, *Martelaarschap van de tienduizend (eerste deel)* depicts the first part of the dramatic legend of the Ten Thousand Martyrs—Christian soldiers said to have been executed on Mount Ararat. Campagnola, active in the circle of Titian, was celebrated for his inventive approach to printmaking and his ability to translate epic narratives into dynamic compositions suited to the graphic medium. This work is a counterproof—a reversed impression pulled from a freshly printed woodcut while the ink was still wet. Such prints were often made to check the design in mirror image or to transfer it onto another surface. At roughly 54 by 39 centimeters, the sheet reveals Campagnola’s confident handling of line and his interest in crowded, energetic scenes that reward close looking. As a rare technical variant rather than a finished presentation print, the counterproof offers modern viewers a fascinating glimpse into the Renaissance workshop, where artists continually experimented with woodcut processes to refine storytelling and visual impact.

About the Artist

Domenico Campagnola · 1500–1564

Domenico Campagnola (c. 1500–1564), a Venetian Renaissance painter, engraver, and pioneering draftsman, was born around 1500, likely in Venice to German parents, and became a child prodigy under the tutelage of his adoptive father, Giulio Campagnola. Apprenticed to Giulio around 1507 in Venice, he mastered painting, drawing, engraving, and woodcutting from the esteemed Paduan engraver, whose stipp...