Art Institute of Chicago

The Genius of Castiglione

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Italian, 1609-1664)

Date

1645–47, published 1648

Medium

Etching in black on ivory laid paper

Culture

Italy

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Reflecting on his own prolific creativity, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione creates a rich allegory. Fame is personified as a reclining half-nude male youth holding a trumpet. In the upper left, a winged infant blows a horn and points to a crown of laurel leaves, a symbol of immortality. Futility (foul and rabbit) and artistic creativity (pallet, brushes, and sheet music) are at Fame’s feet. Heralded as one of the most creative etchers in Italy, Castiglione was inspired by Dutch artists’ work, particularly the etchings of Rembrandt van Rijn, whose prints were imported from Amsterdam to Genoa by Dutch dealers.

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