Artwork
Lot
Lot 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
The print *Lot* is a black-and-white engraving by Domenico Cunego, made as the thirty-sixth plate in the series *Schola Italica Picturæ*.
The print *Lot* is a black-and-white engraving by Domenico Cunego, made as the thirty-sixth plate in the series *Schola Italica Picturæ*. It reproduces a composition originally conceived by Guido Reni, translating his painted vision into a detailed graphic form. Printed on paper, the work serves as part of a broader effort to disseminate Italian Renaissance imagery through printmaking, making high art accessible beyond original canvases.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts Lot, a biblical figure from the Book of Genesis, alongside two daughters following their escape from Sodom. The central figure, bearded and aged, gestures toward the two younger figures flanking him—each representing one daughter. The leafy crown and staff on the left figure, and the loose hair and supportive gesture on the right, suggest their roles as survivors in a moment of transition, conveying both vulnerability and familial bond.
Technique & Style
Cunego employed fine linear engraving to render texture and volume, emphasizing chiaroscuro through stark contrasts between light and shadow. The figures are modeled with deliberate gradations of tone, enhancing their three-dimensionality. Dramatic poses and close spatial arrangement heighten emotional intensity, reflecting Reni’s Mannerist influence and Cunego’s skill in translating painterly effects into the medium of print.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 18th century, *Lot* was part of *Schola Italica Picturæ*, a collection commissioned to catalog significant Italian paintings through reproductive engravings. Cunego, a noted engraver in Rome, worked closely with collectors and scholars to document works by artists like Reni. The series aimed to preserve and circulate artistic heritage, with this print likely distributed among European academies and private collections.
Context
During the 18th century, reproductive prints were vital for art education and cultural exchange across Europe. *Schola Italica Picturæ* emerged amid growing interest in classical and Renaissance traditions, positioning Italian masters as models of artistic excellence. The selection of Reni’s composition for reproduction reflects his enduring reputation, even as stylistic tastes shifted toward Neoclassicism.
Legacy
Though not widely exhibited today, *Lot* remains a representative example of 18th-century reproductive printmaking. It preserves Reni’s compositional intent and demonstrates Cunego’s technical precision. The print contributes to the historical record of how Renaissance imagery was transmitted, studied, and reinterpreted in the centuries following its creation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Dominico Cunego made 18th-century prints after famous paintings by Raphael and other old masters.
