Christ of Caprarola
Medium
Etching, with engraving and drypoint, on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
12.4 × 16 cm (4 15/16 × 6 5/16 in.)
Classification
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
43000
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Although not found in the canonical gospels, the Lamentation over the dead body of Christ was a popular subject in Catholic Italy during the 16th century. Annibale Carracci himself painted it no less than six times. This print, which marks his return to printmaking after a brief hiatus, signals a mature use of the medium of etching to give immediacy to a familiar theme. By employing an unusually fine etching tool as well as the drypoint technique, the artist produced shimmering lines that emphas...
About the Artist
Annibale Carracci · 1560–1609
Annibale was considered one of the greatest Italian painters of his age. His style is marked by naturalism combined with the formal language of Classicism in a grand and monumental style. Annibale was also instrumental in evolving the ideal, classical landscape and is generally credited with the invention of caricature. Italian painter. Comment on works: Mythology.