The Incense Burner

<p>Marcantonio Raimondi engraved <em>The Incense Burner</em> when he was at the height of his skill and talent, as is evident in the naturalistic detail and overall beauty of the print. Raimondi’s engraving depicts a large incense burner supported by two women draped in classical garments. It is thought that the sculpture was meant for Francis I of France because of its use of his heraldic emblems—the salamander and fleur-de-lis—as decorations. The engraving’s design is based on a drawing by Raphael and reveals the painter’s gift for simple but strong compositions.</p>