A masterfully executed 18th-century copper engraving by Domenico Cunego, depicting the Athenian general and statesman Alcibiades. This piece is part of a celebrated series based on Raphael’s fresco “The School of Athens” in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City.
This striking portrait showcases Cunego’s technical prowess in line engraving. The work captures the subject in a vigorous profile, characterized by his dense, curly hair, full beard, and classical military armor (lorica musculata). The contrast between the metallic texture of the shoulder plates and the organic curls of the hair creates a remarkable sense of three-dimensionality, showcasing the precision of the Neoclassical period.
Historically identified as either Alcibiades or Xenophon, this figure represents the intersection of the military and the philosophical. Positioned within the Socratic circle in the fresco, his presence in this series symbolizes the practical application of wisdom in leadership and the active, civic life of the ancient world
Domenico Cunego (Italian, 1726–1803)
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, 1483–1520)
Copper Engraving / Etching
Circa 1785
Scuola d’Atene (The School of Athens)
Laid paper (typical of late 18th-century European prints)
Rome, Italy
Published in Rome during the 1780s, this series served as a vital educational tool. Plate 23 demonstrates how Cunego could isolate secondary figures of the fresco to highlight Raphael’s skill in depicting diverse materials like metal, cloth, and hair in a single composition.
Detailed descriptions of paper quality, margins, and preservation state.
Direct history of the collection’s origin.
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