s2e8 History of Prints The Italians (Pollaiuolo)

In series 2 episode 8, co-hosts Ann Shafer and Tru Ludwig talk about the early history of prints and books in Italy, comparing it to Northern Europe. Differences in style and materials are discussed using the example of Masaccio's The Holy Trinity with the Virgin and St. John and donors, 1425–27, the fresco painting in chapel in Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy, and the Ghent Altarpiece, Jan and Hubert van Eyck's Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, 1432, an oil and tempera on wood multi-paneled altarpiece in St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium. Circling back to prints, we also talk a lot about Antonio Pollaiuolo's engraving, the landmark Battle of the Ten Nude Men, c. 1490. Of course, Dürer pops back up, too.

Images discussed are below along with their credit/institution.

Episode image: Antonio Pollaiuolo (Italian, c. 1432-1498). Battle of the Ten Nude Men, c. 1490. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 384 x 589 mm. (15 1/8 x 23 3/16 in.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

Master E.S. (German, active c. 1450-1467). St. Matthias, c. 1450-60. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 149 × 89 mm. (5 7/8 × 3 1/2 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art. 

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (Italian, active c. 1465). Polyhymnia, c. 1465. Engraving with hand coloring. Sheet: 185 × 105 mm. (7 5/16 × 4 1/8 in.); plate: 180 × 99 mm. (7 1/16 × 3 7/8 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art.

Hubert van Eyck (Netherlandish, 1370-1426) and Jan van Eyck (Netherlandish, 1390-1441). Adoration of the Mystic Lamb or The Ghent Altarpiece, 1432. Oil and tempera on wood. 138 x 181 in. St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium.

Masaccio (Italian, 1401-1428). The Holy Trinity with the Virgin and St. John and donors, 1425-27. Fresco painting in chapel. 236 x 125 in. in Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy.

Martin Schongauer (German, c. 1435/50-1491). Christ Carrying the Cross, c. 1475-80. Engraving. Sheet: 11 3/8 × 16 7/8 in. (289 × 429 mm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

Antonio Pollaiuolo (Italian, c. 1432-1498). Battle of the Ten Nude Men, c. 1490. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 384 x 589 mm. (15 1/8 x 23 3/16 in.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

Antonio Pollaiuolo (Italian, c. 1432-1498). Hercules and Antaeus, c. 1475-80. Bronze. Museum Nazionale del Bargello, Florence, Italy.

Johannes de Ketham (German, 15th century). Fasciculus Medicinae. Venice: 1491. Bound volume.

Francesco Colonna (Italian, 1433/34-1527). Hypnerotomachia Polyphili. Venice: 1499. Bound volume.

Platemark is produced by Ann Shafer
Series one co-host: Ben Levy
Series two co-host: Tru Ludwig
Theme music: Michael Diamond