Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Diana (Diana Triuia in aedibus) 1530 - 1580

This print of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, offers a fascinating insight into early printmaking. The image was created by an anonymous artist using an intaglio technique. Here, the design is incised into a metal plate – likely copper – and then filled with ink. Paper is then pressed against the plate with considerable force, transferring the image. Notice the distinct lines and the tonal variations achieved through hatching and cross-hatching. This labor-intensive process demanded precision and skill, and the resulting prints would have been relatively valuable. The “Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae” was a project designed to document and disseminate knowledge of Roman antiquities. In this context, printmaking played a crucial role in democratizing access to art and culture. It allowed for the mass production of images, and the distribution of classical knowledge, reflecting the growing importance of visual media in society. It challenges the idea of craft as a purely handmade practice, acknowledging the role of reproduction in shaping cultural understanding.