God Creating the Animals, c. 1550
Engravingexpand_more
Anonymous Giftexpand_more P.85.54.4
Not on Viewexpand_more
In 16th-century Europe, the natural world was interpreted largely in terms of God's creation. It was also the Age of Exploration, which sparked interest in exotic specimens. Here the earth produces "living creatures of every kind" (Genesis 1:24), even, apparently, a unicorn. This print was inspired by Raphael's design for a Vatican loggia (1518-19), where it symbolized the far reaches of Leo X's papacy. This more naïvely rendered image seems to show the animals still adjusting to their materialization.
Details
- Title
- God Creating the Animals
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.85.54.4
- Provenance
- Liechtenstein (')
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Bartsch unrecorded; reverse copy (Marcantonio School)
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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