Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Engravings by Cherubino Alberti

attributed to Cherubino Alberti
Sarcophagus frieze with Rape of Leucippids
16th century
drawing
British Museum

The drawing above, possibly by Cherubino Alberti, is a study of the figures carved onto the side of a Roman sarcophagus now in Florence at the Uffizi. The central pair of figures from that drawing is reflected (reversed) in the engraving by Cherubino below  from a series of mythological roundels made after models left by Polidoro da Caravaggio (1492-1543).

Cherubino Alberti after Polidoro da Caravaggio
Pluto abducting Proserpine
1590
engraving
British Museum
Cherubino Alberti after Polidoro da Caravaggio
Mercury beheading Argus
1590
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti after Polidoro da Caravaggio
Neptune rising from the waters
1590
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti after Polidoro da Caravaggio
Bacchanal with Satyrs caressing young Bacchus
1590
engraving
British Museum

Another such series, but in a horizontal frieze-like format, used banner-sized lettering inside a conspicuous frame to proclaim Polidoro's authorship of the designs.One factor that partly accounts for Polidoro's potent influence over other Roman artists was the wide distribution in the 16th century of his fresco-decorations on the exterior walls of Roman palaces. The originals had all disappeared under the attrition of natural forces before even a century had elapsed, but their appearance is extensively preserved in the work of others.

Cherubino Alberti after Polidoro da Caravaggio
Assembly of the Muses and Poets on Mount Parnassus
16th century
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti after Polidoro da Caravaggio
Rape of the Sabines by the companions of Romulus
16th century
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti (1553-1615), primarily an engraver, based his compositions on the work of others more often than not. The prints below, without overt models, are from a series with heraldic figures flourishing ornamental trumpets while supporting globes bearing the arms of the Medici.  

Cherubino Alberti
Woman with Medici arms on a globe
16th century
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti
Angel with Medici arms on a globe
16th century
engraving
British Museum

In addition to his tributes to Polidoro, Cherubino Alberti (along with everyone else) was eager to celebrate Michelangelo's achievement. In the print immediately below he took one of the famous late Michelangelo  Pietà sculptures and set it in a landscape, as if the carved marble block were positioned outside the actual tomb where Christ was interred.

Cherubino Alberti after Michelangelo
Pietà Statue in a landscape
16th century
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti after Michelangelo
Ignudo supporting a garland
16th century
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti after Michelangelo
Figure of a soldier retreating
16th century
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti after Michelangelo
Damned soul forced down
16th century
engraving
British Museum

Cherubino Alberti after Michelangelo
Demons
16th century
engraving
British Museum

I am grateful to the British Museum for making these images available.