Venice Italy Renaissance Edict Scene 1891 Engraving after J Wagrez

Description

Venice Italy Renaissance

This Venice antique engraving was published in 1891 and reproduces a composition by J. Wagrez. Entitled “Proclamation d’un édit à Venise (XVe siècle)” it depicts the public proclamation of an edict in fifteenth-century Venice.

The artist’s name “J. Wagrez” appears above the image. Beneath the composition the inscription “Gravure de M. Baude” credits the engraving to Baude. These names form part of the printed sheet and are not handwritten signatures.

A public proclamation in Venice

At the centre of the composition an official stands on a raised platform holding a document. His long dark robe contrasts with the pale architectural setting. The people gathered around him turn towards the speaker while their varied poses give the scene a lively character.

Armoured soldiers stand near the platform with their weapons visible. Other men wear decorated garments and distinctive headwear. Women carrying baskets occupy the foreground adding an everyday element to the formal announcement.

The arrangement of the figures leads the eye from the foreground towards the reader. Their clothing and equipment contribute to the historical setting identified in the original French caption.

Architecture and engraved detail

Monumental columns and elaborately carved capitals dominate the background. Decorative stonework and recessed openings create a richly textured setting behind the assembled crowd. Birds appear among the architectural elements in the upper right of the image.

The engraving describes contrasting surfaces through fine lines and areas of shadow. Fabric folds polished armour woven baskets and carved masonry each receive a different treatment. Dark passages in the clothing stand out against the lighter columns helping to make the crowded scene legible.

This combination of historical narrative costume and architecture gives the print interest beyond its central subject. It offers a nineteenth-century artistic interpretation of public life in Renaissance Venice.

Publication and inscriptions

The engraving was published in 1891. The reference to the fifteenth century in its caption identifies the period represented in the scene rather than the date of the print.

The original French title remains visible beneath the image together with the engraver’s credit. The artist’s name is printed in the upper margin.

Measurements

• Sheet size: 34 × 25.8 cm.

• Engraved image: 29.4 × 22 cm.

• Orientation: portrait.

• Printing: black on paper.

• Presentation: unframed.