Portrait of Pope Paulus IV
1530–66
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 13 13/16 × 8 9/16 in. (35.1 × 21.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.97.617
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
This engraving by Nicolas Beatrizet from 1530–66 represents the artistic and cultural achievements of its period. Printmaking during this era served multiple functions, providing affordable art for collectors, documenting contemporary life, and demonstrating technical virtuosity. The medium allowed wide distribution, making visual culture accessible beyond elite patronage. This example showcases period craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibilities, offering insights into historical artistic practice...
About the Artist
Nicolas Beatrizet · 1515–1566
Nicolas Beatrizet, born around 1515 in Lunéville, Lorraine (then part of the Holy Roman Empire), emerged as one of the most prolific French engravers of the 16th century. Little is known about his early life and training, with no records of specific teachers or apprenticeships, though regional influences from German and Italian printmaking likely shaped his skills before he arrived in Rome around ...