Robetta (Cristofano, 1462-1534), Adoration of the Magi (After Filippino Lippi), engraving, circa 1502-1530, on laid paper, with watermark of a bindle/key, an excellent but probably later impression on [?]16th century paper, thread margins trimmed to the platemark along the right hand side, unframed, sheet: 307 x 283 mm. (12 1/8 x 11 1/8 in), platemark: 300 x 278 mm. (11 3/4 x 10 7/8 in)
Literature:
Bartsch, 6; Levenson, et al., 118; Hind, Strauss 10
⁂ The original copper plate for the present print is held in the British Museum (see reg. no.: 1888,0117.13), with a second work engraved on the reverse showing the Allegory of the Power of Love. Passavant suggested that impressions were made up until at least 1821 from the plate, at which point it was in the collection of Giuseppe Vallardi. It has been noted by Levinson et al. that the general composition of the print was derived from Filippino Lippi's (1459-1504) painting of the same subject from 1496 (See: Uffizi, Florence). [1]
[1] cf. Levinson, Jay A., Konrad Oberhuber, and Jacquelyn Sheehan, 'Early Italian Engravings from the National Gallery of Art', Washington, D.C., 1973, no. 118.