Details
AGOSTINO VENEZIANO (1490-1540)
Portrait of François I, King of France
engraving
1536
on laid paper, watermark Anchor in Circle surmounted by a Star (similar to Briquet 495, Lucca, circa 1540-45)
a fine, early impression of this rare, large portrait
printing warmly and richly, with great contrasts and luminosity
slightly slipped in the upper half
trimmed outside the borderline on three sides, just inside the borderline below
generally in very good condition
Sheet 435 x 297 mm.
Provenance
John Young (d. 1874 or 1875), London (Lugt 1560); probably in his sale, Sotheby's, London, 12-17 April 1875.
Literature
Bartsch 519
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Lot Essay

To our knowledge, only one other impression of this rare, large portrait François I (1494-1547) has been offered at auction within the last thirty years.
François I arguably established the intellectual and artistic ideas of the Italian renaissance in France, and was a supporter and patron of many artists from Italy, including Leonardo da Vinci, Andrea del Sarto, Benvenuto Cellini, Rosso Fiorentino, Giulio Romano and Primaticcio, some of whom worked on the decorations of his palace at Fontainebleau, where he also set up a printing workshop.

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