Bacchanal with Silenus (B. 20; Hind 3; Martineaux 75)

Details

Andrea Mantegna (1431-1503)
Bacchanal with Silenus (B. 20; Hind 3; Martineaux 75)
engraving with drypoint, early 1470s, a good though slightly later impression of this rare engraving, printing with burr on the scratch above the grapevine at right and the scratches below, on fine laid paper, probably late 15th century, without watermark, an unusually large sheet for this print, showing the entire subject and parts of the irregular, curved platemark at the corners, with thread margins in places along the left sheet edge, some thin spots, otherwise in good condition
S. 322 x 454 mm.

Provenance

Jung, red square stamp verso (not in Lugt)
Rusu, blue stamp verso (not in Lugt)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The Bacchanal with Silenus is one of the few engravings undisputedly attributed to Mantegna himself. Only five impressions have been offered at auction within the last twenty years, and unlike the present example, almost all impressions of this large print have been trimmed very closely to or even into the subject. This is one of the few impressions that give us an idea of the full size and shape of the plate.

More from Old Master, 19th Century, Modern & Contemporary Prints

View All