Saturn
Medium
chiaroscuro woodcut in four violets
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Print Purchase Fund (Rosenwald Collection)
Accession Number
1982.10.2
Art Historical Context
Created around 1525–1530, this chiaroscuro woodcut titled *Saturn* showcases the collaborative spirit of Renaissance printmaking. Giuseppe Nicolo Vicentino translated a design by the accomplished painter Giovanni Antonio Pordenone into a striking print. The subject draws from classical mythology, portraying the Roman god Saturn in a dramatic composition that reflects the period’s renewed interest in ancient themes. The work’s medium—a chiaroscuro woodcut printed in four shades of violet—highlights an innovative technique of the early sixteenth century. By using multiple carved blocks to build...