Titian
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed to image): 32.5 × 23.2 cm (12 13/16 × 9 1/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.14.1172
Art Historical Context
This engraving by Agostino Carracci, created in 1587, presents a portrait of the celebrated Venetian painter Titian. As a reproductive print, it captures the likeness of an earlier master whose work profoundly shaped Renaissance art. Carracci, a leading figure in the Bolognese school, used the engraving medium to translate painted portraits into widely distributable images, helping to preserve and celebrate artistic legacies during a time when original paintings were accessible only to elite collectors. The technique of engraving allowed for fine detail and multiple impressions, making this w...
About the Artist
Agostino Carracci · 1557–1602
Agostino left his profession as a tailor to become an artist. His earliest works were engravings, which was an extremely profitable practice and he was famed for having attained new heights of perfection. He was also a skilled painter and collaborated with his famous relations on various commisions. Comment on works: Religious; Portraits.