# The Genius of Castiglione

**Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione** (Italian, 1609–1664)  
ca. 1645–47 (published 1648)  
Etching  
14 x 9 5/8 in. (35.5 x 24.5 cm)

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 17.50.17-36. [The museum's record](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/335668).

## About this work

A genius, the guiding spirit of the artist, presides over a crowd of objects and creatures, among them musical instruments, birds, rabbits and putti, in this etching that Castiglione published in 1648. The title presents the image as an emblem of the artist’s own creative spirit, a kind of personal manifesto about art, fame and the passing of time. His loose, luminous etching style owes much to Rembrandt, whose prints were then circulating in Italy and whom Castiglione greatly admired.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione made this in about 1645–47 (published 1648), aged about 31. It is now at The Met in New York.

### How it was made

- **Etching.** The artist draws with a needle through a waxy coating on a copper plate, and acid bites the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, wiped and printed under pressure, so the line keeps the freedom of drawing.

### [Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/giovanni-benedetto-castiglione)

Italian, 1609–1664; born in Genoa; died in Mantua

Castiglione, nicknamed Il Grechetto, trained in his native Genoa and worked in Rome before becoming court painter to the Gonzaga in Mantua. He painted pastoral journeys of the patriarchs crowded with animals and vessels, but his most original work is on paper: he invented the monotype, painting an image on a plate and pressing it onto a sheet, and made bold drawings with a brush loaded with oil paint. His etchings show the influence of Rembrandt.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Prints
- The artist was about 31
- Real size: about 14 × 9½ in (36 × 25 cm). The 11 × 14 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 17th century
- Subjects: Musical Instruments, Birds, Men, Women, Putti, Rabbits
- Colour: grey
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/997.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/997/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/the-genius-of-castiglione-met-335668).