Drawing by Balthazar Peruzzi of Sienna - Anne Claude Philippe de Thubières, comte de Caylus

A refined chiaroscuro print by the comte de Caylus, reproducing a classical drawing by Baldassare Peruzzi from the Crozat collection.

This print is a reproduction of a drawing by the Italian Renaissance master Baldassare Peruzzi. It was produced by the French antiquarian and engraver Anne Claude Philippe de Thubières, comte de Caylus, as part of his efforts to document works held in private collections, specifically that of Pierre Crozat. The technique employed here is a combination of etching and woodcut, intended to mimic the appearance of a wash drawing or a chiaroscuro print.

The composition depicts a classical scene featuring a central figure accompanied by a lion, standing near a portico. In the background, a pastoral setting unfolds with various animals, including cattle and smaller creatures, arranged in a manner typical of Renaissance narrative art. The use of tonal variations in brown ink provides a sense of depth and volume, characteristic of the chiaroscuro style that was highly regarded by eighteenth-century collectors for its ability to replicate the nuances of original sketches.

Caylus was a significant figure in the study of classical art, and his project to engrave the drawings in the Crozat collection provided contemporary artists and scholars with access to works that were otherwise inaccessible. The print reflects the eighteenth-century interest in the preservation and dissemination of Renaissance draughtsmanship. The inclusion of the original inscription at the base of the print confirms its provenance and the collaborative nature of its production, involving the oversight of Nicolas Le Sueur. This piece offers a glimpse into the history of printmaking and the systematic documentation of European art collections during the Enlightenment period. The work maintains a balance between the linear precision of the etching and the soft, atmospheric quality of the woodcut overlays, resulting in a sophisticated visual record of Peruzzi's original design.