The Cumean Sibyl
1480/90
Medium
Engraving on paper
Dimensions
Plate: 17.9 × 10.5 cm (7 1/16 × 4 3/16 in.); Sheet: 18 × 10.6 cm (7 1/8 × 4 3/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
86269
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The Cumean Sibyl is part of a series of engravings of 36 male and female prophets. In this image, the inscription on the pages of the sibyl’s open book contains a passage from Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue, which was interpreted as an early prophecy of Christ’s birth. Because of this supposed prophecy, Virgil and the Cumean Sibyl were viewed by early Christians as ancients who would have been Christians had the religion existed in their time. The Cumean Sibyl also served as Virgil’s guide to the under...