Crucifix Held by Mary Magdalene, Accompanied by Another Saint - Teodoro Viero

A fine 18th-century Italian engraving depicting a devotional scene with Mary Magdalene and a saint, after a design by Pietro Liberi.

This etching and engraving by Teodoro Viero captures a devotional scene, drawing upon the stylistic conventions of the Venetian Baroque. The composition is divided into two distinct registers. The upper section features a celestial vision of the crucified Christ, supported by angels amidst swirling clouds, while the figure of God the Father appears at the apex. The lower section depicts Mary Magdalene, identifiable by her traditional attributes, kneeling as she supports the base of the cross. Beside her stands a saintly figure, likely a bishop or monastic leader, who gestures towards the divine apparition above. A small putto assists with the pastoral staff, adding a sense of movement to the foreground. Viero, a Venetian printmaker, often reproduced the works of other painters, as indicated by the inscription 'P. Liberi inv.' on the plate, referring to the artist Pietro Liberi. The print demonstrates the technical precision characteristic of eighteenth-century Italian printmaking, utilising fine cross-hatching to create depth and shadow. The dramatic lighting and theatrical arrangement of the figures reflect the influence of the Counter-Reformation aesthetic, which sought to engage the viewer through emotional and spiritual intensity. The Latin inscription, 'Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum', translates to 'Blessed be the name of the Lord', reinforcing the religious function of the image. This work provides a clear example of how print culture disseminated religious iconography across Europe during the period, allowing for the wider circulation of complex compositions originally conceived for altarpieces or private devotional spaces. The balance between the earthly figures and the heavenly realm is managed through the use of atmospheric perspective, with the clouds serving as a transition between the two spheres.