Winged Figure

Stefano Mulinari was an 18th-century Italian printmaker whose work bridged the Baroque and Neoclassical periods. This delicate etching and aquatint, created when Mulinari was just nine years old according to the date, presents an attribution puzzle—more likely, this work comes from later in his career, around the 1760s-1780s when he produced numerous religious and mythological prints. The aquatint technique, which creates tonal areas through acid-resistant resin, was still relatively new in the mid-18th century, and Mulinari became adept at using it alongside etching to achieve subtle gradations of light and shadow.

The winged figure motif appears frequently in Mulinari's oeuvre, often representing angels, putti, or allegorical beings in religious scenes. Looking at his body of work—including pieces like 'Descent of the Holy Ghost' and 'Virgin and child flanked by angels'—we see his consistent interest in celestial subjects rendered with fine linear work and atmospheric tonal effects. The intimate scale of this print (roughly 6 by 3.5 inches) invites close viewing, typical of cabinet prints meant for private contemplation. Notice how Mulinari uses the aquatint to create soft, atmospheric backgrounds that make the figure appear to float, while crisp etched lines define anatomical details and feathers.