Countess Marie Anne Marcolini - Carl Gottlieb Rasp

A refined 1787 stipple engraving by Carl Gottlieb Rasp, depicting Countess Marie Anne Marcolini in profile with her heraldic coat of arms.

This stipple engraving by Carl Gottlieb Rasp, dated 1787, depicts Countess Marie Anne Marcolini in profile. The work is based on a painting by Johann Heinrich Schmidt, who served as a court painter in Dresden. The portrait captures the subject in a formal, aristocratic manner, typical of late eighteenth-century European portraiture. The Countess is shown with her hair styled in a high, braided fashion, wearing a garment with a soft, ruffled neckline.

The composition is framed within an oval medallion, which is topped by a decorative ribbon bow. Below the portrait, a cartouche displays the Countess's name alongside her heraldic coat of arms, supported by two lions. The use of stipple engraving allows for subtle gradations of tone, creating a soft, painterly effect that mimics the texture of the original oil painting. The background features a fine, cross-hatched pattern, providing a neutral field that draws attention to the subject's profile.

Carl Gottlieb Rasp was a German engraver active in Dresden, known for his technical precision in reproducing the works of contemporary painters. This print reflects the refined aesthetic of the Saxon court during the period. The inclusion of the coat of arms and the formal titling indicates that this was likely intended for a collection of aristocratic portraits or as a commemorative piece for the Marcolini family. The print demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship involved in eighteenth-century reproductive engraving, where the engraver sought to translate the nuances of light and shadow from canvas to paper. The overall presentation is balanced and orderly, adhering to the conventions of formal portraiture of the era.