"Amor Poeta Et Mnemosyne Musarum Mater" (Cupid & the Muses), C.1670

Pietro Santi Bartoli (1635-1700)
after Raphael D'Urbino (1483-1520)
"Amor Poeta Et Mnemosyne Musarum Mater" (Cupid and the Muses)
Etching on laid paper
Circa 1660-1670
Platemark: 21 cm x 37.4 cm
Sheet: 23 cm x 39.6 cm

A engraving of five females wearing classical dress, each holding an attribute and standing between trees. A cherub with wings, holding a bow stands centre left. The central female figure hands him arrow. Signed within the plate "Rafaelo D'urbino pinxit" (lower right) and "Pietro Santi Bart Sculpsit." (lower left) with the text beneath the image "AMOR POETA ET MNEMOSYNE MVSARVM MATER" ["Love, Poetry and Mnemosyne, the mother of the Muses"]

Earlier state without publication line.

This print is Pietro Sante Bartoli's representation (etched in reverse) of a frescoe painted by Raphael and his Studio in the Loggia of the Villa Palatina in Rome. The frescoe represents Mnemosyne (presenting an arrow to Cupid) and four of her daughters: the Muses (left to right) of music, dance, comedy and love poetry.

Good margins, age toned laid paper, some staining and creasing. An old manuscript brown ink number "6th?" towards the margin lower left.

Rare. Not in BM. See Royal Collection [RCIN 854095] and Thorvaldsens Museum Denmark [E297] for later states with the Vincenzo Billy publication line ["Vincentius Billy excudit Romæ"].

Bibliographic Reference:
Raphael Invenit 1985 : G. Bernini Pezzini et al., Raphael Invenit. Stampe di Raffaello nelle Collezioni dell'Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica, Rome, 1985 p. 161, no. XI.1