The Creation of Adam who reclines at left and touching the hand of God
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 6 1/2 × 10 9/16 in. (16.5 × 26.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1917
Accession Number
17.50.16-175
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the dramatic moment of divine creation in *The Creation of Adam who reclines at left and the hand of God*, masterful engraving from the late 16th century. Attributed to Polidoro da Carav, a Mannerist painter influenced by Michelangelo and executed by the skilled engraver Cherubinoti (also known as Zaccaria Mattia this print dates to around 1570–1615. Measuring 6 1/2 × 10 9/16 inches, it captures the iconic biblical scene where God reaches out to touch Adam's hand, infusing life into the first man. Engravings like this were revolutionary in the Renaissance, allowing the dissemination of...
About the Artist
Polidoro da Caravaggio|Cherubino Alberti (Zaccaria Mattia) · 1492–present
Polidoro Caldara, known as Polidoro da Caravaggio, was born around 1499 in Caravaggio, Lombardy, and emerged as one of the most innovative painters of the early Mannerist period. Arriving in Rome circa 1515 as an untrained laborer hauling plaster for the Vatican Logge decorations, he quickly caught the eye of Raphael's key assistant, Maturino da Firenze. By 1517, Polidoro had joined Raphael's work...