Diana Mantuana
The Savior Seated on a Heart
1576
Scroll
Diana Mantuana
The Savior Seated on a Heart
1576
Physical Qualities
Engraving, Sheet: 185 × 138 mm. (7 5/16 × 5 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
Garrett Collection
Object Number
1946.112.4636
Devotional imagery in print, such as this depiction of a young Jesus seated on a flaming heart, enjoyed widespread popularity throughout Catholic countries from the 1400s to the 1800s. Diana Mantuana trained in her family workshop with her father, a sculptor, and established a career making prints after other artists’ designs. In this example, however, her inclusion of the letter D (for delineavit, meaning “drew it” in Latin) after her signature suggests that she was responsible for the composition’s design as well as its engraving.
Prints exist in multiple copies, making them much more affordable for the consumer than a painting or sculpture. For artists of Mantuana’s time, prints had the potential of spreading their names to new audiences, including future patrons.
Inscribed: lower right in plate: "1577 / DIANA / MANTVANA. D."; lower left in plate: "ALLA. S. LIVIA / DE MASIMI. RO"; lower center in plate: "CHRISTVS IN ARDENTI REQVIESCIT CORDE SEDILE HOC ILLI PRAEBET GRATVS AMATIS AMOR"
Markings: WM: fleur-de-lis in circle with B above; CM: Claghorn
