Carlo Cesi. Maiden Caressing a Unicorn / Rome, late 17th century.

Artist: Domenichino [Domenico Zampieri] (Italian, 1581–1641) after Annibale Carracci (Italian, 1560–1609)
Engraver: Carlo Cesi [Cesio; Cesius] (Italian, 1622–1682)
Publisher: Arnold van Westerhout (Flemish, 1651–1725), active in Rome (Westerhout formis)
Place/Date: Rome, late 17th century (c. 1680s)
Medium: Etching and burin engraving on laid paper
Dimensions: Sheet 180 × 208 mm; image 155 × 187 mm

Inscription (within plate, lower margin): 28 C. Cesius fecit. A. Westerhout formis. Cum Privil. S. Pontificis.
(= No. 28; made by C. Cesius; from the press of A. van Westerhout; with Papal privilege)

Description: In a wooded landscape, a seated young woman, her hair bound in a scarf, embraces a small unicorn that kneels with its forelegs raised in her lap; at right, a stream, trees, and distant hills. The printed number "28" at lower left indicates inclusion in a series.

Catalogue raisonné: Bartsch XXI, p. 113, no.58 — « Une jeune fille caressant une licorne. Ce tableau qui est sur une des portes de la dite galerie, a été peint par le Dominiquin, sur les cartons d’Annib. Carrache. Largeur: 6 p. 9 lign. Hauteur: 5 p. 8 lign. » (A young girl caressing a unicorn. This painting, which is on one of the doors of the said gallery, was painted by Domenichino after cartoons by Annibale Carracci. Width: 183 mm; Height: 153 mm)

Symbolism (iconographic note)

• Maiden + unicorn: standard allegory of chastity; in bestiary tradition, the unicorn can be tamed only by a virgin, who draws it to her lap (source of the Christian reading of the unicorn as a type of Christ and the maiden as Mary).
• Surrender: the kneeling unicorn with forelegs raised into the maiden’s lap signals the moment of taming/capture.
• Pastoral setting: the quiet landscape underscores purity/modesty (head-scarved figure, seated pose), typical of early modern treatments that oscillate between Christian and moral-allegorical (secular) readings.

Seller's title: Allegoria della Castità.