Artwork
Vulcan at the Forge
Vulcan at the Forge is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Marco Dente. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Vulcan at the Forge is an engraving created by Marco Dente in 1510. It exemplifies the reproductive printmaking practices prevalent in early 16th-century Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, in his workshop surrounded by tools and flames, drawing on classical mythology for its subject matter.
Technique & Style
The work showcases the meticulous linework characteristic of engraving, a technique involving the carving of a design into a metal plate.
History & Provenance
Marco Dente, born in Ravenna in 1493, was an Italian engraver who worked closely with Marcantonio Raimondi's circle in Rome, where reproductive prints were a dominant output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marco Dente da Ravenna (1493–1527), usually just called Marco Dente, was an Italian engraver born in Ravenna in the latter part of the 15th Century.
