The circumcision of Christ by a bald mohel. Etching by F.G. Aliamet, 1765, after G. Reni.

The circumcision scene has a wide reaching symbolic resonance: it shows the first shedding of the blood of Christ, hence the beginning of the Passion; it is the moment Christ is named; furthermore it displays the Judaism through which Christianity must pass

Bible. N.T. Luke 2.21. To the right a woman holds a basket with one turtledove, a sacrifice for the occasion of presentation at the Temple. The mohel is bald

London (Cheapside) : Publish'd according to the act of parliament by J. Boydell, 1 May 1765.

1 print : etching ; platemark 51.7 x 38.4 cm

The circumcision. From the original picture painted by Guido Reni, in the collection of Sir Peter Leicester, Bart. to whom this plate is most humbly dedicated, by his most obliged & obed.t humble sev.t J. Boydell. Size of the picture I 23 ¾ by I 29 ¾ in height. Guido Reni pinx.t. R.d Earlom delin.t F. Aliamet sculp.t Bears number: 19

Marcel Roux, Inventaire du fonds français, graveurs du dix-huitième siècle, Bibliothèque nationale, Cabinet des estampes, vol. 1, Paris 1931, p. 19, F.G. Aliamet no. 3 ("3. 'The circumcision. From the original picture, painted by Guido Reni, in the collection of Sir Peter Leicester, Bart to whom this plate is most humbly dedicated, ...' Sous le tr. c. : 'Guido Reni pinxt Rd Earlom delint F. Aliamet sculpt'. Au bas : 'No. 19. Publish'd according to Act of Parliamt by J. Boydell, engraver, in Cheapside London; May 1st 1765.' Armes à la marge. H. 0m452 x L. 0m366. L'état décrit, 4 épr… Selon Mariette, qui la goûtait fort peu, cette estampe fut gravée en 1755 (Abecedario, IV, p. 364).")

Wellcome Collection 24023i