The Miraculous Draught of Fishes

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Miraculous Dra of Fishes*, a chiaroscuro woodcut around 1540–50 by Niccolò Vicentino a design by the High Renaissance Raphael (Raffaellozio da Urbino). This print depicts the biblical miracle from the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus instructs his disciples to cast their nets into the sea, resulting in an overflowing catch of fish—a powerful symbol of divine abundance and the call to apostleship. Raphael's graceful figures and dramatic composition capture the Renaissance ideal of harmony and humanism, faithfully reproduced here to bring his genius to a wider audience. Vicentino's mastery shines in the innovative chiaroscuro technique, using three woodblocks in shades of brown to mimic the subtle play of light and shadow found in oil paintings. Developed in 16th-century Italy, this method elevated woodcuts from simple black-and-white illustrations to tonal masterpieces, rivaling engravings in depth and expressiveness. Printed on a modest sheet (9 1/8 × 15 3/8 in.), it exemplifies how prints democratized art during the Renaissance, allowing collectors across Europe to own Raphael's vision posthumously—he had died in 1520. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1922 and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work highlights the era's fusion of faith, artistry, and technology. A testament to Raphael's enduring influence, it invites you to marvel at the miracle unfolding in intricate line and shadow.