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Infant Jesus Christ
Western European Engravings of the 15th to 18th Century from the State
Hemitage Collection
5 January, 2001 - 18 March 2001
The exhibition features many works of art on the same subject and still
these repeated scenes are very different. They all were created at different
times, in different countries by different artists in different historical
and stylistic periods. On the other hand if we compare The Adoration of
the Magi by Schonhauer, a Late Gothic German master, and The Adoration
of the Magi by Tiepolo, a representative of Late Italian Baroque, we shall
find a universal thing that unites the artists and is more important than
numerous distinctions in their works. This thing is the feeling of Faith,
Love and Tenderness, accompanying the cult of the Adoration of the Child.
Thousands of images on the subject of The Nativity were created by artists
and every one is unique and truthful as long as every master saw this
event with his own insight.
The highest point of perfection, originality and intellectual potential
the art of engraving in the 15th -early 16th century reached in the works
of Albrecht Duerer, a German master (1471 - 1528). The eight of his prints
mounted at this exhibition are on the subjects: The Adoration of the Magi
,The Adoration of the Shepherds, The Flight into Egypt and others. The
highlights of the works produced in the 16th century are the prints by
Albrecht Altdorfer (circa 1480 - 1538). The print The Blessing Infant
Jesus standing on the Spheres of the Universe (circa 1512) depicts the
Infant holding his right hand in blessing over the world, his left hand
with an orb - the emblem of the Universe. This type of iconography appears
in the Late Middle Ages and the engraving by Altdorfer gives one of the
earliest examples of it.
A great master of engraving of the Mannerism epoch in the North of Europe
was Hendrick Goltsius, a Netherlandish artist. The displayed etching The
Adoration of the Shepherds with a Candle was created as a proof of his
masterly skills. It was deliberately left unfinished. This composition
may be treated as an echo of the "non finito" idea, that was so important
for the art of Michelangelo who deliberately left his works incompleted.
Of interest is an etching by the Italian master Pietro del Po (1616 -
1692) The Holy Night. The classical composition was created under a strong
influence of Nicolas Poussin. This style was one of the trends of Roman
art in the early 17th century which was all penetrated with the idea of
renovation of religious feeling.
Numerous works by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606 - 1669) occupy a particular
place at the exhibition. His etchings are displayed practically in all
sections of the display. The art of Rembrandt dissolves the limits between
the myth and reality. Religious subjects are treated in such a way that
the viewer as if participates in the events of the Holy History, the genre
scenes receiving a highly symbolic meaning.
The 18th century summs up the previous stages in the development of engraving
and is the last and concluding page in the more than 400-years history
of engraving of the "old masters". At the same time it is the herald of
the art of the New Age. The current exhibition includes the works by Giovanni
Battista Tiepolo (1696 - 1770) and his son Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1727
- 1804) stricking by the unusual energy of the gift and an unpredictable
imagination. In 1753 Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo issued a series of 27 scenes
depicting the Flight into Egypt in succession, a unique series for the
world graphics. Thus he created a whole story with a certain time space
in it. Four engravings from this series are on display.
Merging together of the high symbolism and intimate details of the event,
which is characteristic of the European Christian religion in general,
is reflected in the prints most vividly.The art of printed graphics (engraving)
is based on a labour-consuming technique of making numerous copies of
the images. Therefore it is democratic and mass art. But it has never
been looked upon as only the way of reproducing something. Artists became
aware that the new form of art gives them opportunities for unlimited
experimenting and therefore many of their works seem to outrun the time.
It looks as if artists experienced more freedom in engraving than in painting
that was binding them by numerous conventionalities.
The exhibition is accompanied by the illustrated catalogue printed by
the publishing house of the State Hermitage Museum.
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The Blessing Infant Jesus Resting on the Spheres of
the Universe
Albrecht Altdorfer
Larger view
The Adoration of the Magi Jacques Charles Bellange
Larger view
The Holy Family at the Table (Grace)
Jacques Callot
Larger view
The Flight into Egypt
(on the board of Hercules Segers)
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
Larger view
The Travelling Musicians
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
Larger view
The Madonna and Child with a Cat and a Snake
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
Larger view
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