Deliquio di Maria Vergine - Carlo Gregori

A detailed 18th-century engraving by Carlo Gregori depicting the Virgin Mary supported by attendants during the procession to Calvary.

This print, titled Deliquio di Maria Vergine, is an etching and engraving by the Italian printmaker Carlo Gregori. It reproduces a composition by the painter Baldassare Franceschini, known as Il Volterrano. The scene depicts the moment of the Virgin Mary's collapse, or swoon, during the procession to Calvary.

In the foreground, the Virgin is supported by female attendants, her posture conveying a sense of physical exhaustion and grief. To the left, Christ is shown carrying the cross, his gaze directed towards his mother. The composition employs the dramatic lighting and emotional intensity characteristic of the Italian Baroque period. The figures are arranged to guide the viewer's eye through the narrative, from the central collapse to the background figures of soldiers and onlookers.

Gregori, a skilled engraver based in Florence, was known for his ability to translate the tonal qualities of oil paintings into the medium of print. His use of cross-hatching and varied line weights creates a sense of volume in the drapery and depth in the background. The print captures the theatricality of the original painting, focusing on the human reaction to the suffering of Christ. The inclusion of the Latin inscription at the base identifies the subject and the original painter, reflecting the common practice of reproductive printmaking in the eighteenth century. This work provides a clear example of how religious narratives were disseminated through print culture during the period, allowing wider audiences to engage with compositions that were otherwise confined to private collections or ecclesiastical settings.