This image represents the earlier of the two Miraculous Draughts of Fishes mentioned in the bible. Christ, Peter and another disciple sit in Peter's boat, which is full of fish. In a second boat are three more disciples pulling in their net. The boats are low in the lake because of the large haul of fish.
The so-called Raphael Cartoons are seven full size designs for tapestries by the great Italian Renaissance artist Raphael (1483-1520). They illustrate passages from the Bible concerning the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. None of them is smaller than ten feet high by thirteen feet wide. They belong to Her Majesty the Queen and have been on loan to this museum since 1865. The earliest print relating to the Raphael Cartoons dates from 1516, the year in which Raphael received final payment for the commission. It inaugurates an extraordinary case study in the history of printmaking, stretching over more than four hundred and fifty years and across a wide range of printmaking techniques.
This print is thought by some writers to be based on a drawing in the Royal Collection which is by Raphael's pupil Gionvanni Francesco Penni. Some of the details which form such a striking part of the Cartoon such as the fish in the boats and the birds in the foreground are absent in both the drawing and the print. Andrea Andreani who reissued this print in 1609, must have got hold of the original blocks and added Raphael's name, and his own monogram and city of residence, to the image.
Physical description
Christ sits in Peter's fishing boat on the far right of the image. This boat sits lower on the lake because it is supposed to be overloaded with fish. In the other boat the three men struggle to gather their net.
The centre of the image depicts a lake with two fishing boats, each with three men, one boat still hauling up a net. In the background to the left is a landscape with small groups of people on the shore, to whom Christ had just been preaching. Colours are beige (main background), green shadows and black lines, with paper forming white highlights.
This print is in reverse of Raphael's Cartoon fo the subject and is a simplified version of the original, without the buildings on the far bank, and without the birds and fish.
Place of Origin
Italy (printed)
Date
1518 (made)
1609 (printed)
Artist/maker
Carpi, Ugo da, born 1475 (printmaker)
Andreani, Andrea, born 1558 - died 1629 (printmaker)
Raphael, born 1483 - died 1520 (after, artist)
Materials and Techniques
chiaroscuro woodcut from three blocks
Marks and inscriptions
RAPHEL VRB. / INVEN / AA / In mantoua / 1609
Dimensions
Height: 24.5 cm trimmed, Width: 35.4 cm trimmed
Descriptive line
The Miraculous Draught of Fishes by Ugo da Carpi (ca 1480-?1532); reissued by Andrea Adreani; from a design by Raphael for the tapestries in the Sistine Chapel; chiaroscuro woodcut from three blocks; 1518, re-issue 1609.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Gilpin, William. An Essay Upon Prints., 1768, p. 29-30.
"A single word upon the subject of execution, shall conclude these remarks. Here the advantage lies wholly on the side of painting. That manner, which can best give the idea of the surface of an object is best; and the lines of the finest engraving are harsh in comparison of the smooth flow of the [brush]. ... the ancient wooden print in which the middle tint is used is undoubtedly in point of execution beyond either etching or engraving."
Bartsch, Adam von. Peintre-Graveur, 1808-1821, Vol. XII.
Strauss, Walter L. Illustrated Bartsch, 1978-, Vol. 1.
Miller, Liz. 'From Marcantonio Raimondi to the Postcard: Prints of the Raphael Cartoons'. Display leaflet, 1995.
Includes further reading list.
Shearman, John. Raphael's Cartoons in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen and the tapestries for the Sistine Chapel. London, Phaidon, 1972.
General text about the cartoons and tapestries.
Fermor, Sharon. The Raphael Tapestry Cartoons: Narrative, Decoration, Design. London, Scala Books in association with the Victoria and Albery Museum.
General text about the cartoons and tapestries.
Exhibition History
From Marcantonio Raimondi to the Postcard: Prints of the Raphael Cartoons (Victoria & Albert Museum, Prints Gallery, Henry Cole Wing 17/09/1995-30/04/2004)
Labels and date
This print is thought by some writers to be based on a drawing in the Royal Collection which is by Raphael's pupil Gionvanni Francesco Penni. Some of the details which form such a striking part of the Cartoon such as the fish in the boats and the birds in the foreground are absent in both the drawing and the print. Andrea Andreani who reissued this print in 1609, must have got hold of the original blocks and added Raphael's name, and his own monogram and city of residence, to the image. [1995]
Production Note
Second state - ie reissue from the original blocks by Andrea Andreani in 1609; the original was printed in 1518
Materials
Paper; Printing ink
Techniques
Woodcut
Subjects depicted
Landscape; Jesus Christ; Raphael Cartoons; Fishermen (people); Fishing vessels
Categories
Prints; Religion; Christianity; Designs; Architectural fittings; Printmaking techniques
Collection code
PDP
