s2e22 History of Prints Reproductive Prints (part two)

Platemark s2e22 is a continuation of Tru Ludwig and Ann Shafer’s conversation on reproductive prints. They pick up where they left off on the last episode and talk about the earliest moments of reproductive prints, the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with a focus on Andrea Andreani (after Andrea Mantegna), Israhel van Meckenem (after Martin Schongauer), Urs Graf (after Martin Schongauer), and MarcAntonio Raimondi (after Albrecht Dürer and Raphael).

For clarity, a reproductive print is one in which an artist creates a design (a drawing, painting, sculpture) and another artist creates a print after that original design. These can be sanctioned by the first artist or not or they can occur long after the first artist‘s death. It is customary to acknowledge all the artists in the strip of lettering at the bottom of the print (called the address). This way credit is given where due. Over time, reproductive prints became quite formulaic and staid—wait until we get to the early 19^th century. When photography was developed in the 1830s, it wasn’t long before there was little need for the reproductive print. We’re showing our love for these too-long overlooked beauties.

Episode image: Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, c. 1480–before 1534), after Raphael (Italian, 1483–1520). The Judgment of Paris, c. 1510–20. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 11 7/16 x 17 3/16 in. (291 x 437 mm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Andrea Andreani (Italian, 1558/59–1629) after Andrea Mantegna (Italian, c. 1431–1506). The Triumph of Julius Caesar, c. 1598. Nine chiaroscuro woodcuts. Image (each): 37 x 37 cm.; sheet (overall): 37 x 380 cm. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Andrea Andreani (Italian, 1558/59–1629) after Andrea Mantegna (Italian, c. 1431–1506). Colophon from The Triumph of Julius Caesar, c. 1598. Nine chiaroscuro woodcuts. Image (each): 37 x 37 cm.; sheet (overall): 37 x 380 cm. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Israhel van Meckenem (German, c. 1445–1503). Double Portrait of Israhel van Meckenem and His Wife Ida, c. 1490. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 130 x 175 mm. (5 1/8 x 6 7/8 in.). National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Israhel van Meckenem (German, c. 1445–1503) after Martin Schongauer (German, 1445–1491). Death of the Virgin, c. 1480/90. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed to plate mark): 24.8 x 16.9 cm (9 3/4 x 6 5/8 in.), National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Martin Schongauer (German, 1445–1491). Death of the Virgin, c. 1470–74. Engraving. Plate: 25.7 x 16.8 cm. Achenbach Foundation, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Martin Schongauer (German, 1445–1491). Baptism of Christ, 1481 or before. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 158 x 159 mm. (6 1/4 x 6 1/4 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore.

Urs Graf (Swiss, c. 1485–1527/29). Baptism of Christ, 1505. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed near platemark): 213 x 143 mm. (8 3/8 x 5 5/8 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore.

Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528). The Presentation in the Temple, from the series The Life of the Virgin, c. 1505. Woodcut. Sheet: 17 3/8 x 12 1/16 in. (44.2 x 30.6 cm.); image: 11 11/16 x 8 3/16 in. (29.7 x 20.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, c. 1480–before 1534) after Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528). The Presentation of Jesus to Simeon in the Temple, c. 1500–34. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 11 7/16 × 8 1/8 in. (29 × 20.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, c. 1480–before 1534) after Raphael (Italian, 1483–1520). Portrait of Raphael, 1512. Engraving. 13.7 x 10.5 cm. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, c. 1480–before 1534), after Raphael (Italian, 1483–1520). The Judgment of Paris, c. 1510–20. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 11 7/16 x 17 3/16 in. (291 x 437 mm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Edouard Manet (French, 1832–1886). Dejeuner sur l’herbe, 1863. Oil on canvas. 208 x 264.5 cm. (81 7/8 x 104 1/16 in.). Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Selected Bibliography

Linda Hults. The Print in the Western World: An Introductory History. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1996.

Rebecca Zorach and Elizabeth Rodini, editors. Paper Museums: The Reproductive Print in Europe, 1500–1800. Chicago: Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, 2005.

Antony Griffiths. The Print Before Photography: An Introduction to European Printmaking 1550–1820. London: British Museum, 2016.

Platemark is produced by Ann Shafer
Theme music: Michael Diamond
Audio mixing: Dan Fury, Extension Audio
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