Caption

Image of Death hovering above the earth. Illustration from J. Baka, Remarks on Inevitable Death, Common to All, Expressed in Poem, Vilnius, 1807. Józef Baka (1707–1780), Polish late Baroque poet and Jesuit; his 'Notes on the Inevitable Death' is a collection of twenty-two poems first published in Vilnius in 1766. Estreicher cast doubt on the authenticity of the 1807 Vilnius edition. An 1828 edition with two lithographs is noted; the engravings are made in the aquatint technique. At that time, Warsaw studios produced book illustrations and sheet music; aquatint had been introduced to Warsaw by Fryderyk Krzysztof Dietrich (arrived 1817), and plates might also have been imported from Vilnius, where aquatint was practiced by artists associated with Vilnius University. Graphic plate; height 10.7 cm, width 9.2 cm.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A39_258

License type

Rights managed

Available size

89.3Mb (4.5Mb) / 17.3in x 20.0in / 5204 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Image Death hovering earth Illustration J Baka Remarks Inevitable Death Common Expressed Poem Vilnius 1807 Józef Baka 1707–1780 Polish late Baroque poet Jesuit Notes collection twenty-two poems first published 1766 Estreicher cast doubt authenticity 1807 Vilnius edition 1828 edition two lithographs noted engravings aquatint technique time Warsaw studios produced book illustrations sheet music aquatint introduced Warsaw Fryderyk Krzysztof Dietrich arrived 1817 plates might also imported was practiced artists associated Vilnius University Graphic plate height 10.7 cm width 9.2 cm rectangular metal plate rounded corners showing weathered mottled surface shades brown copper rust hints gray faint engraved scene skeletal figure batlike wings flight holding long pole low landscape includes group small towerlike structures vegetation engraved lines lighter slightly reflective darker uneven background plate displays areas spotting patina warmer cooler brown tones.