The defeat of the Ethiopians

Antonio Tempesta
Italy
1555 – 1630

The defeat of the Ethiopians
plate 5 from the series Battles of the Old Testament
1613
etching on paper
Place made
Rome
Medium
etching on paper
State
B.XVII.129.240: TIB.3501.240, only state
Dimensions
19.1 x 28.7 cm (plate)
19.4 x 29.1 cm (sheet)
Credit line
Bequest of David Murray 1908
Accession number
084G2016
Signature and date
Signed in plate bot.c., "AT TE" in monogram. Not dated.
Catalogue raisonne
B.XVII.129.240: TIB.3501.240, only state
Media category
Print
Collection area
European prints

  • WALL LABEL: A Beautiful Line: Italian prints from Mantegna to Piranesi, 2012

     

    Antonio Tempesta probably learnt the new art of etching in Rome, after moving there from Florence by the mid-1580s. His prints, which date from 1589 to 1627, were enormously popular and were widely published, including in Antwerp, Amsterdam and Paris. Tempesta designed and etched his own prints, and was also his own publisher. His etching style, which was as fluid as his pen and ink drawing, represented a broad range of subjects, including Biblical scenes, battle scenes based on Old Testament stories, classical mythology and hunting scenes. His flair for dramatic storytelling is particularly evident in his battle scenes.

     

    Maria Zagala, Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings & Photographs

  • WALL LABEL: A Beautiful Line: Italian prints from Mantegna to Piranesi, 2012

     

    Antonio Tempesta probably learnt the new art of etching in Rome, after moving there from Florence by the mid-1580s. His prints, which date from 1589 to 1627, were enormously popular and were widely published, including in Antwerp, Amsterdam and Paris. Tempesta designed and etched his own prints, and was also his own publisher. His etching style, which was as fluid as his pen and ink drawing, represented a broad range of subjects, including Biblical scenes, battle scenes based on Old Testament stories, classical mythology and hunting scenes. His flair for dramatic storytelling is particularly evident in his battle scenes.

     

    Maria Zagala, Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings & Photographs

  • A beautiful line. Italian prints from Mantegna to Piranesi

    Art Gallery of South Australia, 20 August 2010 – 31 October 2010
  • [Book] Leuschner, Eckhard. 2004. The Illustrated Bartsch. Antonio Tempesta (Commentary). vol. 35, part 1.
  • [Book] Reed, Sue W. & Wallace, Richard. 1989. Italian Etchers of the Renaissance & Baroque.
  • [Book] Zagala, Maria. 2010. A Beautiful Line : Italian prints from Mantegna to Piranesi.