Artwork
Birth of John the Baptist
Birth of John the Baptist is a print by Dominico Cunego. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Domenico Cunego’s print entitled *Birth of John the Baptist* reproduces a composition originally painted by Lodovico Carracci. Issued as plate 28 in the early eighteenth‑century series *Schola Italica Picturæ*, the work presents a biblical narrative on paper, rendered through the medium of engraving.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures the moment of John the Baptist’s nativity, a scene described in the Gospel of Luke. Central to the composition is a woman cradling the infant, while another pours water, evoking the ritual purification associated with the event. Surrounding figures kneel or gesture, underscoring the communal reverence for the prophetic child.
Technique & Style
Executed in fine engraving, Cunego employs a chiaroscuro effect that models the figures through delicate hatching and cross‑hatching. The limited light source, suggested by a candle held in the doorway, creates a contrast between illuminated faces and shadowed interiors, while the flowing drapery is rendered with precise line work that conveys texture and movement.
History & Provenance
Produced in the 1700s, the print bears Cunego’s signature and was circulated as part of the *Schola Italica Picturæ* series, a collection intended to disseminate Italian masterworks to a broader audience. The plate reflects the period’s interest in reproducing celebrated paintings for educational and devotional purposes, linking the original Carracci composition to a wider European market.
Artist & collection
Artist
Dominico Cunego made 18th-century prints after famous paintings by Raphael and other old masters.
