Artwork
Birth of John the Baptist
Birth of John the Baptist is a print by Dominico Cunego. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Domenico Cunego’s print entitled Birth of John the Baptist reproduces a composition originally painted by Lodovico Carracci. Issued as plate 28 in the early eighteenth‑century series Schola Italica Picturæ, the work presents a biblical narrative on paper, rendered through the medium of engraving.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures the moment of John the Baptist’s nativity, a scene described in the Gospel of Luke. Central to the composition is a woman cradling the infant, while another pours water, evoking the ritual purification associated with the event. Surrounding figures kneel or gesture, underscoring the communal reverence for the prophetic child.
Technique & Style
Executed in fine engraving, Cunego employs a chiaroscuro effect that models the figures through delicate hatching and cross‑hatching. The limited light source, suggested by a candle held in the doorway, creates a contrast between illuminated faces and shadowed interiors, while the flowing drapery is rendered with precise line work that conveys texture and movement.
History & Provenance
Produced in the 1700s, the print bears Cunego’s signature and was circulated as part of the Schola Italica Picturæ series, a collection intended to disseminate Italian masterworks to a broader audience. The plate reflects the period’s interest in reproducing celebrated paintings for educational and devotional purposes, linking the original Carracci composition to a wider European market.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Dominico Cunego made 18th-century prints after famous paintings by Raphael and other old masters.
