Artwork information

This engraving by Alberti is taken from a series of eleven Mythological Subjects after Polidoro. Pursued by Apollo, Daphne changes into a laurel tree to escape his attentions. An engraving of this scale is quite unusual for the 17th century, although the medium was popular when reproducing larger scale works by other artists. Etching, on the other hand, was the preferred medium when printmakers were demonstrating their virtuosity, in that it was nearest to drawing, whether in ink, crayon or graphite. (A Connoisseur's Eye: Prints from the Tomory Collection, 2005)