, the most celebrated of the old masters in the art of engraving,
, the most celebrated of
the old masters in the art of engraving, was born at Bologna, as is generally supposed, about the year 1487 or
1488. His first master was Francesco Francia, or Raibolini,
(See Francia,) a painter and engraver, from whom he
learned the principles of drawing, and succeeded so well,
that the name of Francia was added to his own. It does
not appear from whom he learned engraving; but it must
have been early, as the print of “Pyramus and Thisbe
” is
dated 1502, and this, as well as several of his first works
from the designs of Francia, were probably executed before
his departure from Bologna.