Artwork Page for Augustus and the Tiburtine Sibyl

Details / Information for Augustus and the Tiburtine Sibyl

Augustus and the Tiburtine Sibyl

1570s
(Italian, c. 1537–d. after 1586)
Measurements
Sheet: 27 x 39.7 cm (10 5/8 x 15 5/8 in.)
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
?

Did You Know?

The story portrayed in this etching was understood as a turning point from paganism to Christianity during the Roman era.

Description

The Roman Emperor Augustus and the Tiburtine Sybil (a Roman prophetess) embrace in a lush landscape. A 12th-century legend told that Augustus consulted the sybil to ask if he should be deified after his death. He received a vision of the Virgin and Child, depicted above, which swayed him away from his pagan beliefs. Del Moro’s effortless blend of narrative and landscape was typical of works by artists from the region around Venice.
A horizontally oriented etching with engraving in black ink on paper depicts a woman pointing toward a woman holding a child nestled in clouds. A kneeling man wearing armor and a leaf crown gazes upward from a rocky cliffside on the right. To the left, a river winds through a wooded landscape past a farmhouse toward distant mountains. Fine lines create deep shadows and textures throughout the scene. Below, the words 'MARCO RVI'.

Augustus and the Tiburtine Sibyl

1570s

Marco Angolo del Moro

(Italian, c. 1537–d. after 1586)
Italy, 16th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork