A masterfully executed 18th-century copper engraving by Domenico Cunego, depicting the Italian scholar and cardinal Pietro Bembo. 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 Bembo in profile, accompanied by a secondary figure, with a hand resting realistically on his shoulder. The contrast between the smooth skin and the detailed beard highlights the precision of the Neoclassical period while maintaining the dignity of the Renaissance subject.
Pietro Bembo was a contemporary of Raphael and a leading figure in the Renaissance humanism movement. By including him in the fresco, Raphael bridges the gap between antiquity and his own time. Bembo’s presence symbolizes the revival of classical literature and the linguistic refinement of the Italian Renaissance.
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
This series served to popularize the “hidden” portraits of Raphael’s contemporaries. Published in the 1780s, Plate 33 is a primary resource for studying how Raphael integrated his own social and intellectual world into his historical allegories.
Detailed descriptions of paper quality, margins, and preservation state.
Direct history of the collection’s origin.
Expertly packed and insured delivery to international collectors and institutions.
