Sacrifice of a Swan, from "Ex Antiquis Cameorum et Gemmae Delineata/ Liber Secundus/et ab Enea Vico Parmen Incis"

Art Historical Context

This engraving, titled *Sacrifice of a Swan*, comes from the publication *Ex Antiquis Cameorum et Gemmae Delineata*, a compilation of designs drawn from ancient cameos and gems. Created by Enea Vico and collaborators including Francesco Angeloni, Battista Franco, and Philippe Thomassin, it was published around 159–1622. The work captures a classical scene featuring men and women engaged in a ritual act involving a swan and horned elements, reflecting the Renaissance fascination with Greco-Roman antiquity and its symbolic rituals. As an engraving in its third state, the piece demonstrates the meticulous technique used to translate the delicate reliefs of ancient gems into printable form. Such reproductions played a vital role in sharing classical imagery with scholars and collectors across Europe, preserving details that might otherwise have been lost. The small scale—roughly 3 by 5 inches—highlights the precision required to convey intricate mythological narratives. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this work exemplifies how 16th-century artists bridged ancient traditions with contemporary print culture, offering modern viewers a window into both classical themes and the enduring appeal of antiquarian study.

About the Artist

Enea Vico|Francesco Angeloni|Battista Franco|Philippe Thomassin|Anonymous, Italian, 16th century · 1523–1567

Enea Vico (1523–1567) was born in Parma and came of age during the final, energetic decades of Italian Renaissance printmaking. By 1541 he had made his way to Rome, where he entered the orbit of the engraver and publisher Tommaso Barlacchi and began his professional career. In Rome, Vico encountered the work of the most celebrated printmakers of the preceding generation—Marcantonio Raimondi, Agost...