Descent from the cross.

This large and spectacular etching is after Michelangelo's student, Daniele da Volterra (Ricciarelli's) (1509-66) Descent from the Cross (c. 1545-48), in the Orsini Chapel in the church of Trinità dei Monti, Rome, widely regarded as his masterpiece. The etching long post-dates the painting. It is by the Flemish reproductive engraver and painter Robert van Audenaerde (1663-1743), who lived in Rome between 1683 and 1723, before returning to his native Ghent. In Rome, he worked in the studio of Carlo Maratti, who turned him to printmaking (first etching, as here, then engraving) after his own paintings; the plates were published by François Collignon until his death in 1687. On his departure, he passed his stock of Roman plates to John Jakob Frey, who took on his role as official engraver to Maratti.

British Museum, 'Robert van Audenaerde', https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=133891

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art   March 2019