Expo Focus "Engraving & Interpretation in the High Renaissance"

From 14 February to 10 May, the Domaine & Royal Museum of Mariemont and the University of Liège are presenting ‘Engraving & Interpreting in the High Renaissance’. The exhibition will showcase the work of artist da Brescia, who produced numerous interpretative engraving, thereby circulating and promoting the work of the great masters of the Renaissance!  

Around forty original interpretative engravings, displayed alongside reproductions, sculptures and some engraver's tools, give an insight into the rich context of the 16th century. These works come from major Belgian and French collections such as the Louvre, the BnF, the KBR and the Wittert collection (University of Liège). Mariemont is also presenting a selection of sculptures from its collection of antiquities.

 The circulation of the arts in Europe   

Interpretive engraving is a fascinating art form that involves reproducing, in engraving, another artist’s often famous artwork. Long before the invention of photography in the nineteenth century, these engravings played an essential role in Europe, enabling the circulation of models, ideas and themes, and thereby increasing the renown of the great masters throughout the continent.

 Origin of a practice   

The exhibition looks back at the origins of this practice, which experienced a boom around 1510, in particular thanks to the collaboration between Raphael and Marcantonio Raimondi.

 da Brescia

It is dedicated to a prolific engraver, Giovanni Antonio da Brescia, who, between 1500 and 1520, reproduced many Renaissance masterpieces, including compositions by Andrea Mantegna, Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer, as well as sculptures from Antiquity and paintings by Raphael.

The exhibition invites visitors to consider the crucial role these engravings have played in art history and to explore this captivating heritage by (re)discovering an artist whose work has long been overlooked.

 Curatorship

The exhibition is curated by Laure Fagnart, art historian and senior researcher at the F.R.S-FNRS/University of Liège, and Stefania Tullio Cataldo, independent art historian, lecturer at the Université Catholique de l’Ouest (Angers) and associate member of the CNRS (Laboratoire ITEM).

 Production and partners

The exhibition is co-produced by the Domain & Royal Museum of Mariemont and ULiège. The exhibition is produced with the exceptional collaboration of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

© Musée Wittert ULiège

© BnF 

© Musée du Louvre, Dist. GrandPalaisRmn / Laurent Chastel

© KBR