The Holy Family

The Holy Family with the Virgin holding Christ over the cradle; above angels and God the Father.

Etching, 1640/50 circa, signed on plate at lower right corner 'Giulio Carpioni Ven', and with 'Matio Cadorin detto Bolzetta forma' added on step.

Example in the second state, with the address of the editor Matteo Cadorin added at bottom center.

A very good impression, printed on contemporary laid paper, trimmed to the platemark, restorations at central horizontal crease, some glue stains visible on verso, otherwise in good condition.

Giulio Carpioni was af follower of Parmigianino and afterwards of Ottino, whose influence led him to know Caravaggio, Carpioni was one of the most interesting artists of the XVII century neo-Venetian Classicism in Northern Italy. He put together various experiences coming from different Regions in Italy (Realism from Lombardy, classicims from Bologna and Poussin) to reach his peculiar and particular style among the most interesting in the contemporary Venetian painting; we have evidence of it in his Bacchanalia and in the landscapes with Nynphs and Satyrs. These subjects can be found also in some etching Carpioni realized; he was really fond of this particular technique, although he realized just a few pieces. His etchings, in any case, are extremely rare and they all reveal the influence Poussin had on his classicism and also the interest in Pietro Testa and Giovanni B. Castiglione. Carpioni is mainly famous for his paintings; his activity as etcher, can be considered a sort of experimentation in his young age.

Bibliografia

Bartsch / Le Peintre graveur (XX.183.8); Calabi 1921 / The etchings of Giulio Carpione (1.II); Mazzoli 2008 / Giulio Carpioni incisore tra classicismo e barocco (8).