Marcantonio

Marcantonio, or in full, M. RAIMONDI, an Italian engraver, born at Bologna late in the 15th century. A goldsmith by trade, he early turned to engraving, and received his first great stimulus from woodcuts of Albrecht Dürer, which he saw at Venice about 1505. He copied on copper two sets of plates from the German master's designs for the 'Life of the Virgin' and the 'Passion of Christ' (see DÜRER). At Rome, where he worked from 1510, he was chiefly engaged in engraving Raphael's works, as 'Lucretia,' the 'Massacre of the Innocents,' the 'Three Doctors of the Church,' 'Adam and Eve,' 'Dido,' 'Poetry,' the 'Judgment of Paris,' &c., and subsequently those of Raphael's pupil, Giulio Romano. On account of the power of his drawing and the purity of his expression, he is accounted the best amongst the engravers of the great painter. The capture of Rome by the Constable Bourbon in 1527 drove Marcantonio back to Bologna, where he probably remained until he died, some time before 1534 came to an end. See the essay by Fisher prefixed to the catalogue of his engraved works exhibited in London in 1868, and Delaborde's monograph (Paris, 1887).