NICOLÒ VICENTINO (after Maturino) Clelia Crossing the Tiber.
Chiaroscuro woodcut printed in reddish brown, light tan and black on cream laid paper. 287x425 mm; 11 1/2x16 3/4 inches, thread margins. Second state (of 2), with the address of Andreani lower left. Ex-collection Wilhelm Eduard Drugulin (Lugt 2612, verso); and unidentified collector, armorial ink stamp verso (not in Lugt). A superb, richly-inked impression of this extremely scarce color woodcut.
According to legend, Clelia was a virgin in ancient Rome at the time when the city was being besieged by the Etruscan King Porsenna. She and other young women were surrendered to him as hostage during the peace negotiations. One night they escaped from the Etruscan army camp by crossing the Tiber on a horse, and returned to Rome. The story is one of those illustrating Roman virtues and acts of heroism. Bartsch 5.
