Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Raffaello Guidi. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This paper etching reproduces a scene derived from a composition by Federigo Barocci, showing the mythic escape of Aeneas as he bears his elderly father Anchises from the flames consuming Troy. The print captures the moment of departure, set against a smoky sky and a distant cityscape with domed structures.
Subject & Meaning
The narrative draws on the Roman epic, emphasizing filial duty and the preservation of lineage amid disaster. The presence of a woman and a child in the foreground suggests the broader exodus of Troy’s survivors, reinforcing themes of loss, continuity, and the founding of a new destiny.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, the work employs strong chiaroscuro, juxtaposing deep shadows with illuminated forms to heighten drama. The figures are rendered in flowing garments, their contours defined by fine line work that conveys both movement and emotional tension.
History & Provenance
The print is a later interpretation of Barocci’s original composition, translating his painterly approach into the graphic medium of printmaking. Its authorship is attributed to an anonymous hand, and it has circulated among collections of classical and mythological prints since the 17th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Raffaello Guidi spent his life between Rome and the printing shops of Venice, where he turned his sharp eye into tiny, detailed etchings.
Aeneas and His Family Fleeing Troy
The Rape of Hippodamia
Rape of the Sabines
Samson and Delilah
Le Jeune Astianax qu’Andromaque avoit caché dans le tombeau d’Hector est arraché des bras de sa Mere par les ordres d'Ulisse (Young Astianax, who Andromache Hid in Hector's Tomb, is Seized from his Mother's Arms by Ulysses' Orders)
Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
The Betrayal of Christ
Judith Beheading Holofernes
The Sacrifice at Lystra
Delilah Cutting Samson's Hair