The Three Fates
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 13.8 x 22.2 cm (5 7/16 x 8 3/4 in.) sheet: 14 x 22.4 cm (5 1/2 x 8 13/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1964.8.1032
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Three Fates* (1558), a engraving by Giorgio Ghisi a design by Giulio Romano. evocative print captures the mythological sisters—Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos spin, measure, and sever the thread of human life, a timeless symbol of fate drawn from classical antiquity. Romano, a leading Mannerist artist and Raphael's pupil, infused the composition with dynamic poses and elegant distortions typical of the style, while Ghisi's precise burin work faithfully translates it into print form. Engraved on laid paper (plate: 13.8 x 22.2 cm), this reproductive print exemplifies the Renaissance r...