in the other a military leader of equal degree on foot. In another plate by this engraver is a figure of Mars in his Armour, seated on a couch, with Yenus, who is looking down at a Cupid, which she holds to her breast: this also is a work which has much of good in it. There are besides two large plates by the hand of Giovan-Battista, which prove the richest fancy; they exhibit the Burning of Troy, are well-designed, and display wonderful powers of invention, with the most attractive grace. These and many other plates by the same hand, are signed with the following letters, J. B. M.
Nor less excellent than those above-mentioned was Enea Vico of Parma,[1] who engraved the Rape of Helen after a picture by Rosso, and on another plate the God Vulcan forging arrows in his workshop, with Loves for his assistants, also after a design by Rosso. There are, besides, in this plate Cyclops, occupied at their forges, and which are very well done; the whole work is indeed an exceedingly fine one. In another plate Enea Vico engraved the Leda of Michelagnolo, with an Annunciation, after the design of Titian; the Story of Judith, painted by Michelagnolo in the papal chapel, and the portrait of the Duke Cosimo de’ Medici,[2] when he was very young: the figure last-mentioned, which is in armour, was designed by Baccio Bandinello. Enea Vico afterwards engraved the portrait of Bandinello himself,[3] as he did likewise the Contest of Cupid and Apollo in the presence of all the gods.[4] Had Enea been properly treated by Bandinello, and received from him the due reward of his labours, there is indeed no doubt but that he would have executed many other beautiful plates from the works of that sculptor.
At the time when Francesco, a disciple of Salviati, and a very excellent painter, was in Florence, he was enabled by aid of the liberality displayed towards him by the Duke Cosimo, to give Enea Vico a commission for engraving a
- ↑ There is but little known respecting the life of this excellent artist. His works bear date from 1541 to 1560.— Masselli.
- ↑ The portrait of Duke Cosimo is not by Enea Vico, but by Niccold della Casa. —Bartsch, Le Peintre Graveur.
- ↑ Bartsch considers the portrait of Bandinello to be the work not of Enea Vico, but of Niccolò della Casa.
- ↑ The Contest of Cupid and Apollo, according to Bartsch, is by Niccolò Beatricetto.
