De profetie van Basilides
Giovanni Cesare Testa
1630 - 1660
Medium
etching
Dimensions
380; 743
About this artwork
height 380 mm x width 743 mm
Art Historical Context
Giovanni Cesare Testa’s etching *De profetie van Basilides* (1630–1660) captures a dramatic visionary scene centered on the second-century Gnostic philosopher Basilides. Working in the Baroque period, Testa employed the etching technique to translate complex theological ideas into a wide, panoramic format measuring 380 by 743 millimeters. The medium allowed for fine linear detail and tonal depth, enabling the image to circulate beyond elite collections and reach a broader audience interested in religious and philosophical subjects. The subject draws on Basilides’ esoteric teachings about divi...