Adonis, and many other plates, which were engraved by Griulio Bonasone[1] of Bologna, together with works by Raphael, by Griulio Romano, by Parmigiano, and by every other master from whom he could procure designs. A Venetian painter, Battista Franco,[2] has also engraved many plates from the designs of different masters, executing his work partly with the burin and partly with aquafortis. Among his productions are the Birth of Christ, the Adoration of the Magi, the Preaching of St. Peter, certain subjects from the Acts of the Apostles, and many others from the Old Testament. Nay, this manner of producing pictures has proceeded to such lengths, that those who make a profession of the same keep designers constantly employed, who copy everything good and beautiful that appears, no sooner laying their hands on such works than they put them at once into their prints.
In France the same thing has been done, and after the death of Rosso everything that could be found by his hand was immediately engraved. Among other engravings from the works of Rosso are Clelia with the Sabines passing the river, certain Masks similar to the Parche, made for the King of France, an Annunciation of singular character, a Dance of ten female figures, and King Francis proceeding alone towards the Temple of Jupiter, and having behind him the allegorical figure of Ignorance, with other works of like character: these were engraved by the engraver Renato,[3] during the life-time of Rosso; but many more appeared after his death, and among them all the stories of Ulysses; nay, even the vases, chandeliers, lamps, salt-cellars, and all the innumerable objects of that kind executed in silver after the designs of Rosso, were in like manner subjected to the same process.
Luca Perini,[4] also, has published engravings; one of two
- ↑ Zani calls Bonasone the first engraver who has produced anything with the burin to resemble the effect of the colouring in a painting. His works, according to this authority, range from 1539 to 1592.
- ↑ Bartsch, Le Peintre Graveur, describes 107 of the plates engraved by this painter, who was one of Michael Angelo’s most zealous imitators.
- ↑ Beni Boyvin, or Boivin; also called, as in the text, Renato. He waa born at Angers about 1530, and died at Rome in 1598.
- ↑ Luca Perini, the name given in the text, is most probably a mere error of the copyist. Luca Penni was a brother of Francesco Penni, the dis-
