The Prophet Obadiah, from Prophets and Sibyls
Medium
Engraving; first state of two (TIB)
Dimensions
Sheet: 11 7/16 × 8 1/16 in. (29 × 20.4 cm) Plate: 6 15/16 × 4 1/8 in. (17.6 × 10.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1929
Accession Number
29.16.23
Tags
About this artwork
"The Prophet Obadiah, from Prophets and Sibyls" by Francesco Rosselli|Baccio Baldini (Italian) from 1480–90 represents an important work in prints. Created in engraving; first state of two (tib), this work demonstrates technical skill and artistic vision. As a print, it demonstrates reproductive techniques of the period. The artwork reflects aesthetic values of its time, offering insight into artistic practices and cultural context. It demonstrates the evolution of artistic expression and techni...
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of late 15th-century Italian printmaking with *The Prophet Obadiah, Prophets and Sibyls*, an engraving attributed to Francesco Rosselli and Baccio Baldini, created around 1480–90. This intimate work captures the biblical prophet Obad, likely shown in a moment of contemplation while reading, as suggested by its evocative tags. Measuring just under 7 by 4 inches on the plate, it's a first-state impression—one of the earliest pulls from the plate before any alterations—preserving the engravers' crisp lines and subtle tonal effects in remarkable detail. Engravings like this we...