Artwork
Aldus Pius Manutius
Aldus Pius Manutius is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Giulio Campagnola. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The engraving on vellum, titled 'Aldus Pius Manutius,' was created by Giulio Campagnola in 1498. It is a portrait of the humanist scholar and printer Aldus Manutius.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Aldus Manutius, a prominent figure in typography and classical texts, wearing a tall hat and ruffled collar. An anchor symbol appears on the left side, and his name is inscribed at the bottom in Latin letters. Manutius's serious expression and strong facial features are rendered in detail.
Technique & Style
Giulio Campagnola employed engraving techniques to achieve sharp lines and textures, capturing the folds in Manutius's clothing. The work showcases Campagnola's adaptation of Venetian Renaissance painting's tonal richness into engraving, foreshadowing his later development of the stipple technique.
History & Provenance
Giulio Campagnola, active around the turn of the 16th century, worked in Venice. His adoptive son, Domenico Campagnola, went on to become a notable artist.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giulio Campagnola (Italian: ; c. 1482 – c. 1515) was an Italian engraver and painter, whose few, rare, prints translated the rich Venetian Renaissance style of oil paintings of Giorgione and the early Titian into the…
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