STAND 1

Ten-part engraving after Michelangelo (1475 Caprese – 1564 Rome). Approximate size of total number of sheets joint together: 126,5 x 106,5 cm.

Reference: Boorsch/Lewis 9; Bellini 51; Bartsch 25; Massari 183.

A very fine and mostly even impression dating from the 17th century. Our print is the state before drapery or shadows were added to obscure the private parts of the nude figures. This is also an impressive piece of graphic work. Due to its size and technique it had already attracted a lot of attention during the time of its creation. Vasari mentions the print as early as 1568. It is also registered in early print catalogues from the 17th and 18th centuries. Ghisi had most likely used a drawing as a preparatory for this print, possibly the one by Marcello Vetusti (?).
Our set is dedicated to Matthys van der Merwede, Lord of Clootwyck, a Dutch nobleman who stayed in Italy from 1647 to 1650. A number of smaller sized copies of this print were produced between the 16th and the 18th century, among them by Martino Rota, Leonard Gaultier, Johannes Wierix, “but Ghisi’s easily surpasses all of them” (Boorsch/Lewis).

A detailed decription of the different states of the plates is available upon request.
The image gives only a small detail of plates C, D and E.