Naakte man draagt basis van zuil op zijn rug

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso midden boven, handgeschreven: ‘F Rechberger 1812’ Lugt 2133

Art Historical Context

Behold *Naakte man draagt basis vanil op zijn rug*Naked Man Carrying the Base of a Column on His Back), a striking engraving by Marcantonioondi, created between 1517 and 1520. Measuring just 217 x 144 mm, this work exemplifies the Italian engraver's mastery during the High Renaissance. Raimondi, active in Rome, was renowned for his precise reproductions of designs by masters like Raphael, transforming drawings into widely disseminated prints that brought classical ideals to audiences across Europe. The image depicts a muscular nude figure straining under the weight of an architectural column base, evoking the heroic labors of antiquity—perhaps alluding to Atlas or Herculean feats. Engraving, Raimondi's favored medium, allowed for intricate lines and tonal depth through burin work on copper plates, making art accessible beyond elite patrons. This technique revolutionized visual culture, enabling collectors and artists to study and copy motifs far from their origins. On the verso, a handwritten collector's mark from F. Rechberger (1812, Lugt 2133) traces its esteemed provenance, highlighting how such prints were treasured by connoisseurs. A testament to Renaissance humanism, this piece celebrates the body's power and classical architecture's enduring legacy.

About the Artist

Marcantonio Raimondi · 1475–1534

Marcantonio Raimondi (c. 1480–1534), born near Bologna, Italy, emerged as one of the Renaissance's premier engravers, revolutionizing printmaking through his mastery of reproductive techniques. He trained in the workshop of the goldsmith, painter, and niellist Francesco Francia, whose influence is evident in his early engravings, such as the goldsmith-like shading in *Pyramus and Thisbe* (1505), h...