The Firmament
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 11 5/16 × 8 11/16 in. (28.8 × 22 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. John Sichel, 1966
Accession Number
66.747.108
Art Historical Context
**The Firmament**, a striking 1695 engraving, bridges the genius of Renaissance master Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, 1483–1520) with the skilled hand of Sir Nicolas Dorigny (1658–1743), a prominent French engraver. Produced over 170 years after Raphael's death, this print reproduces one of the artist's celebrated compositions, likely drawing from his Vatican frescoes depicting biblical themes such as the Creation. The title evokes the "firmament"—the vault of heaven from Genesis—capturing Raphael's vision of divine order and cosmic grandeur through intricate line work. Engravings like ...