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Antonio da Trento

The Tiburtine Sibyl Showing the Virgin and Child to Augustus

Maker

Antonio da Trento (Italian, ca. 1510-ca. 1550), woodcutter
After Francesco Mazzuoli, called II Parmigianino (Italian, 1503-1540), designer

Title

The Tiburtine Sibyl Showing the Virgin and Child to Augustus

Year

ca. 1527-1530

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

chiaroscuro woodcut

Supports

Dimensions

Sight: 34.3 x 26 cm (13 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Robinson and her children in memory of Professor Charles A. Robinson, Jr.

Object Number

65.061

Type

Exhibition History

A Matter of Tone
Chiaroscuro Woodblock Prints, 1520-1800
Jul 16, 2004 – Oct 31, 2004

Label copy

In his Lives of the Artists, 16th-century chronicler Giorgio Vasari lists this print and Seated Man Seen from Behind among four chiaroscuro woodcuts by Antonio da Trento, who was hired by Parmigianino to reproduce his designs.

As told in The Golden Legend, the Sibyl, a female prophet, revealed to Emperor Augustus a vision of the Virgin and Christ Child, who would eclipse all the Roman gods. This popular tale connected Ancient and Christian Rome, implying foreknowledge of the coming of Christ by the greatest of Roman emperors.

The collaboration between Antonio da Trento and Parmigianino ended unexpectedly. Vasari records that Parmigianino awoke one morning to discover that the printmaker had stolen Parmigianino’s drawings and all his prints (or perhaps copper plates and blocks-Vasari’s text may be translated either way). The blocks were eventually recovered, but Antonio was never heard from again.

Drawings and Prints of the First Maniera
Feb 22, 1973 – Mar 25, 1973
Prints and Drawings with a Classical Reference
Dec 15, 1965 – Jan 09, 1966

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Antonio da Trento (Italian, ca. 1510-ca. 1550), woodcutter
After Francesco Mazzuoli, called II Parmigianino (Italian, 1503-1540), designer
The Tiburtine Sibyl Showing the Virgin and Child to Augustus, ca. 1527-1530
Chiaroscuro woodcut from two blocks in blue and black
Sight: 34.3 x 26 cm (13 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches)
Gift of Mrs. Robinson and her children in memory of Professor Charles A. Robinson, Jr. 65.061

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