Jupiter embracing Cupid after Raphael's fresco in the Chigi Gallery of the Villa Farnesina in Rome 1512 - 1525

This print, showing Jupiter embracing Cupid, was made by Marcantonio Raimondi in the early 16th century using engraving. This intaglio process involves cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink so it fills the incisions, and then using a press to transfer the image to paper. Look closely, and you'll see the composition is built entirely from these lines; they define the figures, create tonal variation and depth. Raimondi was a master of this technique, and his prints were widely distributed. This one reproduces a fresco by Raphael, a leading painter of the Italian Renaissance. Engravings like this played a crucial role in disseminating artistic ideas. They were luxury goods, certainly, but far more accessible than paintings. Raimondi’s skill allowed Raphael’s design to be shared with a much wider audience. The graphic quality, born of the engraving process itself, gave the image a striking visual power, quite distinct from the original fresco. So, while this print documents Raphael’s artistry, it’s also a testament to Raimondi’s craft, and the power of printmaking in early modern Europe.