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An image of The Virgin and Child by Andrea Andreani, after Alessandro Casolani

Andrea Andreani

(Italy 1558-1559–1629)

after Alessandro Casolani

(Italy 1552–1606)

Title
The Virgin and Child
Year
1591
Media category
Print
Materials used
chiaroscuro woodcut
Dimensions

30.5 x 20.5cm sheet (irreg.)

Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
Credit
Purchased 1986
Accession number
181.1986
Location
Not on display
Further information

The Italian word chiaroscuro, which refers to contrasts of light and dark in a work of art, came to be applied from the early 16th century to woodcuts in which figures were delineated in dark ink on a coloured background with uninked white areas providing the highlights. This print was done from an original wash drawing by Casolani, made especially for reproduction by this method. The printmaker used three different blocks (black, light brown, dark brown) which were printed one on top of the other.

Bibliography (3)

Peter Raissis (Australia) (Author), Mantegna to Piranesi - Italian Old Master Prints from the Collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Domain, 1998, cover (colour illus.), 3, 8. no catalogue numbers

'How Great Thou Art' by Bruce James, pg. 12s., The Sydney Morning Herald 29 Aug 1998, 29 Aug 1998, 12s. Appearing in the Sprectrum Arts section.

Nicholas Draffin (Australia, b.1943, d.1995) (Author), Piety and Paganism, Sydney, 1991, 6. no catalogue numbers

Exhibition history (3)

Piety and Paganism, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 13 Jul 1991–29 Sep 1991.

Mantegna to Piranesi - Italian Old Master Prints from the Collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 27 Jun 1998–20 Sep 1998.

Old Europe: Prints & drawings from the collection 1500-1800, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 03 Jun 2006–06 Aug 2006.