Mythological & Allegorical Prints

During the Renaissance, artists rediscovered classical mythology. Sixteenth century artists favored mythological and allegorical scenes in highly detailed engravings, etchings, and woodcuts. Often the works were interpreted from the paintings of other artists, but the translation into the print medium allowed for some creativity.

Marcantonio Raimondi was a highly prolific engraver, and one of the first Italian artists to experiment with etching. He was best known for his engravings of original works by Raphael, though he reproduced the work of many other artists in his pioneering engraving workshop in Rome. Prints with mythological and allegorical subject matter were common for Raimondi and his contemporaries, and the mass production of images of mythology fueled an interest in classical antiquity.

Quick Facts

• From the Renaissance to the mid-18th century, religious, mythological, and allegorical history paintings were viewed as the most important category of painting
• Albrecht Dürer created stunning woodcut engravings of mythological and allegorical scenes in the 16th century. A pioneering artist, he travelled from his provincial German town to engage in artistic exchange with printmakers in Venice
• Marcantonio Raimondi caused trouble with Venetian authorities when he purchased numerous prints by Dürer and attempted to reproduce them cheaply without a copyright