Diana holding a spear with a stag at right and holding a bear on a leash

Printmaking in woodcut and engraving came to Northern Italy within a few decades of their invention north of the Alps. Engraving probably came first to Florence in the 1440s, the goldsmith Maso Finiguerra (1426–64) used the technique. Italian engraving caught the very early Renaissance, 1460–1490. Print copying was a widely accepted practice, as well as copying of paintings viewed as images in their own right.

Cherubino Alberti was an Italian engraver and painter of the late Renaissance. He was born in 1553 in Borgo San Sepolcro, Tuscany. He was the son of a local artist and learned the art of engraving from his father. Alberti worked in Rome, where he became famous for his engravings of classical sculptures and ancient ruins. His work was highly sought after by collectors and art lovers, and he became one of the most important engravers of his time. In addition to his engravings, Alberti also painted portraits and landscapes. His paintings were influenced by the Mannerist style, characterised by exaggerated poses and dramatic lighting. Alberti died in Rome in 1615, leaving a legacy as one of the most talented and influential artists of his time. His engravings and paintings are still admired and studied today for their technical skill and artistic vision.