The Prophecy of Basilides

1643·pen and brown ink with black and brown washes over black chalk with traces of red chalk, on two joined sheets of greenish-blue laid paper, squared in red chalk, laid down on old mount·sheet: 36.8 × 59.8 cm (14 1/2 × 23 9/16 in.) mount: 38.3 × 61.3 cm (15 1/16 × 24 1/8 in.)

Catalogue

Year: 1643
Medium: pen and brown ink with black and brown washes over black chalk with traces of red chalk, on two joined sheets of greenish-blue laid paper, squared in red chalk, laid down on old mount
Dimensions: sheet: 36.8 × 59.8 cm (14 1/2 × 23 9/16 in.) mount: 38.3 × 61.3 cm (15 1/16 × 24 1/8 in.)
Collection: National Gallery of Art
Artist: Pietro Testa

Artist

Pietro Testa

Painting

Pietro Testa was an Italian High Baroque artist active in Rome. He is best known as a printmaker and draftsman. Most of his relatively brief career was spent in Rome in the circle of artists and scholars interested in Classical ideals, who grouped around Cassiano dal Pozzo. Although his public paintings were largely unsuccessful, he was among the finest and most renowned Italian printmakers and draughtsmen of the 17th century.

Rome

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