Antonio da Trento (about 1508 – after 1550)

The Tiburtine Sibyl and Augustus

Italy, 1527-1530

Chiaroscuro woodcut

337 × 254 mm

This woodcut depicts the legend of Sibyl (a female prophet) who revealed a vision of the Virgin and Christ, the child who would eclipse all the Roman gods, to Emperor Augustus. This tale, featured in The Golden Legend  connected Ancient and Christian Rome; it implies the foreknowledge of Christ by the greatest Roman emperor.

Purchased in January 1958 (No. 58.2)