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Ottley, William Young
An inquiry into the origin and early history of engraving: upon copper and in wood ; with an account of engravers and their works, from the invention of chalcography by Maso Finiguerra to the time of Marc Antonio Raimondi (Band 2) — London, 1816 [Cicognara, 266B]

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https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7598#0040
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CHAP. VII.]

ANDREA MANTEGNA.

507

hoops by which it is bound, is fastened, in both the engravings,
by a cord, or narrow cane, twisted round it eleven times. In the
print which I consider the original, these eleven twistings are care-
lessly represented of different breadths, but, in the other, they are
correctly engraved of equal dimensions.

Silenus and his Attendants.

Silenus is represented, born in the arms of a satyr and two fauns,
in the centre of the composition. On the right are two fauns
dancing, the one playing on a double flute, the other on a reed
pipe. On the left, behind Silenus, is a faun carrying another on
his back; and nearer the border of the print, on the same side, is
another faun, standing in the water, bearing a female of unwieldy
bulk in the same manner. This piece measures eighteen inches in
width, by twelve inches and a quarter in height. (Bartsch, No. 20.)

Of this composition we have two engravings, both of similar
dimensions, and in the same direction, and both of them, in my
opinion, by Mantegna himself. Mr. Bartsch, however, thinks
otherwise, and pronounces that to be a copy which is probably the
most ancient. The print which I consider the most ancient, appears
to have been engraved upon some soft metal, and is more coarsely
executed than the other. It may be distinguished from the more
finished engraving by the following trifling variations, noticed by
Bartsch, in the right hoof of the satyr who assists in bearing Silenus:
viz. that in the further division of the hoof, the three little horizontal
touches are wanting, which are introduced in the other in order to
make that part of the hoof correspond Avith the rest.

A Combat of Tritons.

In the centre of this piece is a triton, who, seated on a sea-horse,
and armed with a bunch of fish, is aiming a blow at his ad-
versary on the right. The latter, who is also seated on a sea-

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