{"product_id":"bathsheba-bathing-by-raphael","title":"“Bathsheba Bathing” by Raphael","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Bathsheba Bathing” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eby Raphael\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ec.1742\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEngraving\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA partially nude Bathsheba bathing on an elevated terrace anchors the left register of this 18th-century black-and-white copperplate engraving. The print visualizes the intense Old Testament narrative of temptation and moral conflict, capturing the exact moment King David looks down from a high palace balcony to spy on the washing figure. Bathsheba adjusts her hair beside a heavy stone basin under a classical colonnade, while a massive phalanx of armored soldiers carrying helmets, spears, and large shields marches through the courtyard below, symbolizing the impending military fate of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. A highly decorative frame borders the entire composition, filled along the top with symmetrical grotteschi elements such as winged griffins and swirling vines. The Latin inscription along the lower margin references 2 Samuel 11, reading \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eVIDIT DAVID DE SOLARIO DOMUS REGIAE BETHSABEAM URIAE SE LAVANTEM TULIT EAM. Reg. II. C. XI\u003c\/em\u003e.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The lower margins attribute the original design to the High Renaissance master Raphael on the left (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Raph. Sanct. pinx.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) and the plate engraving to the Italian printmaker Francesco de Grado on the right (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"F. de Grado inc.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis engraving reflects the profound 18th-century European fascination with classical antiquity and the visual reconstruction of ancient literary figures. Created during a period when aristocratic collectors and scholars eagerly built expansive libraries of historical prints, this work showcases the sophisticated collaborative printmaking networks of Italy. Artists like Francesco de Grado specialized in translating classical narratives into accessible, highly detailed two-dimensional portraits that blended historical armor studies with allegorical landscapes. Prints like this hold significant historical importance because they served a dual purpose, functioning both as high-status decorative art for grand European estates and as vital academic reference tools used by Enlightenment-era scholars to study classical mythology, literature, and design.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eH 13” x 17 ½” W\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMinor handling smudges concentrated at the right corner.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ANTONIO RAIMO GALLERY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54320027304215,"sku":"PR0195-5","price":285.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0668\/3607\/0679\/files\/PR0195-5.1.jpg?v=1784653662","url":"https:\/\/antonioraimogallery.com\/products\/bathsheba-bathing-by-raphael","provider":"ANTONIO RAIMO GALLERY","version":"1.0","type":"link"}