Portrait of Bartolomeo Scappi
Print, specifically a copperplate engraving frontispiece for a book • Attributed to the studio of the printer Michele Tramezzino or an anonymous engraver working in Venice/Rome; after a lost likeness.
Style & Movement
Late Renaissance / Mannerism; characterized by formal portraiture conventions and decorative ornamental frames.
Medium & Technique
Engraving on paper; utilizes cross-hatching, stippling, and fine line work to create tonal values and textures, particularly in the beard and garment.
Creation Period
Circa 1570 (Late Renaissance / Mannerism)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 20 x 15 cm; vertical portrait format (frontispiece plate size).
Subject Description
A bust-length portrait of the famous Renaissance chef Bartolomeo Scappi. The subject is depicted with a long, dense beard, wearing a high-collared doublet. He is encased in an oval egg-and-dart border, with a coat of arms in the upper left corner and his name inscribed below in a cartouche.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; showing typical signs of age-related oxidation and minor foxing consistent with late 16th-century paper.
Estimated Market Value
$500 - $1,200 (as an individual plate); the complete book is valued significantly higher ($15,000+).
Auction Estimate
$400 - $800
Provenance History
Originally published as the frontispiece for Scappi's monumental culinary treatise 'Opera dell'arte del cucinare' (1570). Likely part of a dissected book or a later reprint from the original plates.
Art Historical Significance
Crucial as the only known likeness of Bartolomeo Scappi, the 'chef of popes' who revolutionized culinary arts. It serves as a visual testament to the elevation of the cook's social status during the Renaissance.
Notable Features
Features the Scappi coat of arms and the distinct name 'M. BARTOLOMEO SCAPPI' in Roman majuscules. The detailed rendering of textiles and hair is typical of high-quality Venetian engraving of the period.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing (small brown spots), minor handling creases, and evidence of edge wear consistent with its removal from a bound volume.
Conservation Recommendations
Acid-free mounting and UV-protective glazing. Deacidification of the paper by a paper conservator could stabilize foxing.