MARCANTONIO RAIMONDI (after Raphael) Adam and... Lot n° 1

MARCANTONIO RAIMONDI (after Raphael)Adam and Eve.Engraving, 1510-11. 248x185 mm; 9x7¼ inches, thread margins. Mountain in a circle watermark. A superb, dark impression of this very scarce, early engraving, with the distant buildings and landscape distinct and with little to no sign of wear, consistent with the earliest impressions.In this celebrated Renaissance engraving by Raimondi (1480-1534) derived from Raphael's (1483-1520) ceiling fresco in the Stanza della Segnatura, Vatican Museums, Rome, circa 1509-11, and likely drawings by Raphael as well, Adam plays the part of the seductive fruit-giver, an abominated role traditionally assigned to Eve. He offers Eve forbidden fruits, one of which she accepts and holds near her nose, as if skeptically assessing the fruit's edibility. Bartsch 1.