Antonio Tempesta, Stories from Genesis, 17th Century, Etching

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Stories from Genesis is an etching realized by Antonio Tempesta in the early 17th Century. It's part of series of … Read more Stories from Genesis is an etching realized by Antonio Tempesta in the early 17th Century. It's part of series of three plates. it represents Isaac's sacrifice. 3 etching of 9 cm each; 36x46 cm with frame. Good conditions. God, to test Abraham's faith, orders him to sacrifice his own son Isaac. Abraham goes without hesitation to Mount Moriah and while he is about to diligently make the sacrifice, already holding the knife, an angel of the Lord comes down to block him and shows him a ram to be immolated as a substitute sacrifice. Genesis, 22,1 - 18. Antonio Tempesta (1555-1630) He was trained in the culture of late Mannerism, with a naturalistic but also calligraphic taste, acquired by frequenting Giovanni Stradano, with whom he collaborated on the decoration of Palazzo Vecchio. Moving to Rome in 1573, he worked for Pope Gregory XIII realizing some maps in the Room of Geographical Maps in the Vatican, including the famous Map of Rome (1593). In the papal capital he worked for many noble families and for important cardinals such as Alessandro Farnese and Scipione Borghese.He returned to Florence for a short stay, where he collaborated with Alessandro Allori, Ludovico Buti, Giovan Maria Butteri and Ludovico Cigoli on the decoration of the ceilings of the Uffizi Gallery on the east side, executed with grotesque designs. Moving back to Rome he devoted himself more and more to engraving, with which he achieved wide fame and diffusion throughout Europe. He famous the 150 Old Testament illustrations known as the Tempest Bible. He was also a good draftsman, gifted with a particularly scenographic vein, and other artists printed and disseminated his work in drawing. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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