DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7598#0035
502
ANDREA MANTEGNA. [chap. vii.
he did not afterwards adopt. It measures eleven inches and a
quarter in height, by ten inches and a half in width. (Bartsch,
No. 11.)
Of this piece we have a copy executed by an anonymous artist,
in an opposite direction. It is more delicately engraved than the
original, but wants much of its spirit. Bartsch ascribes it, I think
erroneously, to Gio. Antonio da Brescia.
Another Design for the same Triumphs.
\
In this piece the figures direct their steps towards the left. It
appears to have been engraved by Mantegna from his original
design for that compartment of his triumphs, which, in the
series of wood-engravings in chiaro-scuro, engraved by Andrea
Andreani from the finished work, is numbered five. The general
contents and arrangement of the composition are the same; viz.
two trumpeters, followed by youths accompanying heifers destined
for sacrifice, and others, seated on the backs of elephants; with
youths, on other elephants, in the back-ground, attending can-
delabra. But although the design is generally the same as in the
finished work, the figures are of smaller dimensions in comparison
to the size of the print, and more in number. For example, part of
three heifers may be distinguished, accompanied by four youths;
whereas only two heifers and three attendants can be discovered in
the print of Andreani. A man is seated on the back of each of
three elephants, on the right, but in the print of Andreani, only
two of those elephants have riders. Other small variations are to
be discovered throughout; as in the figure of the principal youth
attendant on the heifers, who bears a vase in his left hand, which
is not the case in the finished work. The back-ground also is
very different, being without the landscape and the clouds found
in Andreani's engraving. These last, however, together with other
ornaments, are said to have been added to Mantegna's pictures
ANDREA MANTEGNA. [chap. vii.
he did not afterwards adopt. It measures eleven inches and a
quarter in height, by ten inches and a half in width. (Bartsch,
No. 11.)
Of this piece we have a copy executed by an anonymous artist,
in an opposite direction. It is more delicately engraved than the
original, but wants much of its spirit. Bartsch ascribes it, I think
erroneously, to Gio. Antonio da Brescia.
Another Design for the same Triumphs.
\
In this piece the figures direct their steps towards the left. It
appears to have been engraved by Mantegna from his original
design for that compartment of his triumphs, which, in the
series of wood-engravings in chiaro-scuro, engraved by Andrea
Andreani from the finished work, is numbered five. The general
contents and arrangement of the composition are the same; viz.
two trumpeters, followed by youths accompanying heifers destined
for sacrifice, and others, seated on the backs of elephants; with
youths, on other elephants, in the back-ground, attending can-
delabra. But although the design is generally the same as in the
finished work, the figures are of smaller dimensions in comparison
to the size of the print, and more in number. For example, part of
three heifers may be distinguished, accompanied by four youths;
whereas only two heifers and three attendants can be discovered in
the print of Andreani. A man is seated on the back of each of
three elephants, on the right, but in the print of Andreani, only
two of those elephants have riders. Other small variations are to
be discovered throughout; as in the figure of the principal youth
attendant on the heifers, who bears a vase in his left hand, which
is not the case in the finished work. The back-ground also is
very different, being without the landscape and the clouds found
in Andreani's engraving. These last, however, together with other
ornaments, are said to have been added to Mantegna's pictures