19/01/2025
GALLE, CORNELIS (1576 Antwerpen 1650)
After:
CIGOLI, LODOVICO (1559 Castelvecchio di Cigoli - 1604 Rom)
Published by
CAYMOX, BALTHASAR (1561 Beese/Brabant - 1635 Nürnberg)
„LVCIFER“
Lettered extensively around image with excerpts of Dante’s Divina Comedia. Lettered with publication line below image: „B. Caimax excudit“.
The Devil at centre, with three faces and three pairs of wings, standing in a pool and devouring a damned soul, against dark background; after Lodovico Cigoli.
Engraving, motif: 262 x 193 mm, leaf: 381 x 244 mm.
Bibliographic references:
Hollstein / Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts c. 1450 -1700 (277)
Acquisition date: November 5, 2024
Ludovico Cigoli (1559-1613) made drawings for the engraving in Florence around 1595. A sketchy sheet without writing can be found in the Uffizi. (Red chalk, pen and brown ink, blue wash, 26 × 20 cm, Florence, Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe degli Uffizi (GDSU 8951 F)
A more elaborate preparatory drawing was offered on the American art market in 2007. (Pen and brown ink, 268 x 213 mm). The inscription “LUCIFER” is already at the top in capital letters. The outlines of the cartouches can be seen on the sides, the writing is missing. See the illustrations.
Cigolis devil figure is based on Giovanni Stradano’s depiction of 1588 (Florence, GDSU 2739F.). This in turn is based on a drawing by Botticelli.
A relief mask by Michelangelo Februcci (1559 Fisole - 1626 Florence) was probably created around the same time. See the last photo.
