CARAGLIO, GIOVANNI JACOPO (1500/1505-m. in Kraków 1565), ROSSO FIORENTINO (owner Giovanni Battista di Jacopo di Guasparre, 1495-1540), KRAKOW. Hercules and Jolaos slaying the Lernean hydra; taken from the series Works of Hercules, eng. G.J. Caraglio after a drawing by Rosso Fiorentino, 1st half of the 16th century; copper b/w, fair condition, after conservation, passe-partout; plate dimensions 183x224 mm; untitled.
Jacopo Caraglio, Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio or Gian Giacomo Caraglio (ca. 1500/1505-1565), also known as Jacobus Parmensis and Jacobus Veronensis. He was an Italian engraver, goldsmith and medalist. His career can be divided into two periods: from 1526 or earlier he worked in Rome and Venice as an engraver in collaboration with leading artists, while he spent the rest of his life as court goldsmith to King Sigismund I the Old in Poland.
One of the first reproduction engravers. Initially trained as a goldsmith, he later learned advanced engraving techniques from Marcantonio Raimondi. He established a partnership with Rosso Fiorentino, which resulted in numerous prints, including the series Works of Hercules, Pagan Deities in Nic hes and Love of the Gods. He engraved jewels, designed and cast medals, and made reproduction engravings based on works by Rosso, Parmigianino, Giulio Romano, Baccio Bandinelli, Raphael, Titian, Michelangelo and Perino del Vaga. During the looting of Rome in 1527, he fled to Venice, where he stayed until 1537, collaborating with Titian and others. In 1539 he was introduced to the court of King Sigismund I the Old of Poland, probably through Pietro Aretino and his contacts in the circle of Queen Bona Sforza (1494-1557). He worked mainly on medals, jewels and goldsmithing. In 1545. Caraglio was appointed royal goldsmith to Sigismund I and continued to serve under Sigismund II Augustus. After accepting the citizenship of Krakow, he was knighted, with a patent of nobility. He died in Cracow, where he was buried in the Carmelite Church.
