L'Innominato, from "Illustrated London News"

William Luson Thomas|Alessandro Guardassoni

July 19, 1862 · Wood engraving · Drawings and Prints

This print reproduces Guardassoni's painting of 1856 (Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan) and represents a pivotal moment in the historical novel "I Promessi Sposi" (The Betrothed, 1827) by Alessandro Manzoni. We here witness the conversion of L’Innominato (unnamed man), who has kidnapped Lucia, the betrothed of the title, at the behest of the evil Don Rodrigo. After listening to a sermon by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, l’Innominato decides to defy the powerful, evil men whom he has served, and escort Lucia back to her home village. These actions eventually bring about the downfall of Don Rodrigo. The skilled wood engraver William Luson Thomas made the print for the "Illustrated London News" in 1862. Founded in 1842 as the world’s first weekly news magazine, the periodical regularly published examples of contemporary art.

Artist

William Luson Thomas|Alessandro Guardassoni

Date

July 19, 1862

Medium

Wood engraving

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Donato Esposito, 2015