Diana and Endemione

Diana standing with her arm embracing Endymion under a tree, who points to the open countryside to her right, with two dogs at her feet and a cupid with an arrow standing between them.

Etching and engraving, circa 1770, signed with production details at the bottom. In the lower left margin, "Domenico Maiotto Pinx.," and on the right, "Antonio Capellan Sculp. I. Wagner recognovit et vend. Ven. C.P.E.S.." At the bottom, the lines read: “Cacciatrice è Diana, e Amor l'aspetta Là dove Endimione à lei s'apressa. Donne imparate, ch'ove Amor saetta Preda divien la cacciatrice istessa”.

From a subject by Domenico Fedeli, known as Maggiotto (Venice, 1713-1794).

Antonio Capellan (Veneto, c. 1740 - after 1783), a Venetian engraver of whom very little is known. He trained under the German master Joseph Wagner (Thalendorf 1706 - Venice 1780) and worked under him for several years, engraving alone or in collaboration with Berardi, Maggiotto, and Piazzetta. From this Venetian activity, we know of several engravings signed by him, but also bearing the name of Wagner, the artistic supervisor ("Wagner recognovit" as in our case) or, more simply, the publisher ("appo Wagner").

A magnificent work, rich in tone, printed on contemporary laid paper, with margins, in excellent condition.

Bibliografia

Le Blanc C., Manuel De L'amateur D'estampes, 6, V. 1 p. 584; Nagler G.K., Neues Allgemeines Künstler-Lexikon, V. 2 p. 346.