Tumbling putti

This engraving is from the first book of <em>De Excellentia et Nobilitate Delineationis Libri Duo </em>('The book of the noble and excellent art of drawing'), published by Giacomo Franco in Venice in 1611. The first book consists of studies of parts of the human figure, of which there are fourteen etchings by Jacopo Palma (called Il Giovane) and thirteen engravings made after him, one of which is these charming tumbling putti. The original volume contains 64 plates. The engraving is part of the so-called King George IV album of Old Master prints, acquired by the Dominion Museum in 1910.

See: Victoria & Albert Museum, http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O698553/print-palma-jacopo-il/

Dr Mark Stocker    Curator, Historical International Art     March 2017