Jokūbo Frėjaus ir jo dirbtuvės dailininkų raižiniai LDM rinkiniuose

ENThe publication exhaustively characterizes the collection – kept at the Lithuanian Art Museum (LAM) – attributed to the hand of the graphic artist and engraver of a Swiss origin Jacob Frei and the artists from his milieu. It is comprised of thirty copper engravings of an impressive format. The author presents a comprehensive review of the artist’s life and work, and discusses his main works as well as the stages of his creative path. J. Frei was particularly fond of reproducing C. Maratta, Raphael, N. Poussin, F. Albani, A. Karracci, S. Conca, P. da Cortona, Domenichino, Gverchino, G. Reni, and others. J. Frei’s collection of engravings kept at the LAM exclusively consists of reproductive graphic prints created after the sacred art masterpieces by distinguished Italian artists of the 18th c. The authorship of the majority of the works undoubtedly belongs to J. Frei and only a few carvings executed under a careful supervision of the workshop’s owner should be attributed to the carvers from the master’s milieu. The collection of engravings kept at the LAM is formed on the basis of the collections belonging to the Society of Science Friends in Vilnius.The author states that J. Frei united the knowledge acquired at C. Maratta’s workshop as well as the experience of the Bolognese academics brothers Annibale and Agostino Carraci and the French classicists, represented by the Paris academics, to create an original and influential trend of reproductive graphic art. Being a foreigner in Rome, J. Frei reached such professional excellence that he was deservedly considered as one of the best Italian engravers. He was particularly popular in France. J. Frei died in Rome on 1st November 1752 at the age of seventy. The master trained quite a number of pupils and his followers among which rank such outstanding engraving masters as Joseph Canale, Mignardo Sorello, Philipp Andreas Kilian, Francesco Bartalozzi and others.