Marcantonio Raimondi, “The Climbers”, Engraving, 1510

Marcantonio Raimondi,was an Italian engraver, known for being the first important printmaker whose body of work consists mainly of prints copying paintings. He is therefore a key figure in the rise of the reproductive print. He also systematized a technique of engraving that became dominant in Italy and elsewhere.

Around 1510, Marcantonio travelled to Rome and entered the circle of artists surrounding Raphael. This influence began showing up in engravings titled “The Climbers” (in which he reproduced part of Michelangelo’s “Soldiers Surprised Bathing”, also called “Battle of Cascina”). After a reproduction of a work by Raphael, entitled “Lucretia”, Raphael trained and assisted Marcantonio personally.

Around 1524, Marcantonio was briefly imprisoned by Pope Clement VII for making the I modi set of erotic engravings, from the designs of Giulio Romano, which were later accompanied by sonnets written by Pietro Aretino. At the intercession of the Cardinal Ippolito de’ Medici, Baccio Bandinelli and Pietro Aretino, he was released, and set to work on his plate of the “Martyrdom of St. Lawrence” after Bandinelli.