The Incense Burner

Marcantonio Raimondi engraved The Incense Burner 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.