Alessandro Cagliostro Collection

Portrait of Giuseppe Balsamo (called Count Alessandro Cagliostro) (image 2 of 2), c.1786. Creator: Jean-Antoine Houdon
Portrait of Giuseppe Balsamo (called Count Alessandro Cagliostro) (image 2 of 2), c.1786

Portrait of Giuseppe Balsamo (called Count Alessandro Cagliostro) (image 1 of 2), c.1786. Creator: Jean-Antoine Houdon
Portrait of Giuseppe Balsamo (called Count Alessandro Cagliostro) (image 1 of 2), c.1786

Count Alessandro di Cagliostro (1743-1795). Creator: Bartolozzi, Francesco (1728-1813)
Count Alessandro di Cagliostro (1743-1795). Found in the Collection of the Bibliotheque Nationale de France

Freemasonry in the 18th Century: magic seance conducted by Aleesandro Cagliostro
3100815 Freemasonry in the 18th Century: magic seance conducted by Aleesandro Cagliostro, founder of the Egyptian Rite (engraving) by French School

Alessandro Cagliostro and Marie Antoinette at the Petit Trianon, Versailles (chromolitho)
3100704 Alessandro Cagliostro and Marie Antoinette at the Petit Trianon, Versailles (chromolitho) by Spanish School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Joseph Balsamo, comte de Cagliostro, before the Inquisition in Rome on April 14, 1791, 1791. Private Collection

Portrait of Joseph Balsamo, comte de Cagliostro, 18th century. Creator: Anonymous
Portrait of Joseph Balsamo, comte de Cagliostro, 18th century. Private Collection

Joseph Balsamo, comte de Cagliostro, in his cabinet, creating an Homunculus. Private Collection

Magic session of Count Alessandro of Cagliostro, Second Half of the 19th century. Artist: Anonymous
Magic session of Count Alessandro of Cagliostro, Second Half of the 19th century. Found in the collection of Russian National Library, St. Petersburg

Count Alessandro di Cagliostro (1743-1795), 1781. Artist: Duhamel du Monceau, Henri-Louis (1700-1782)
Count Alessandro di Cagliostro (1743-1795), 1781. From a private collection

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, also known as Joseph Balsamo, was a fascinating figure in the 18th century. Born in 1743 and passing away in 1795, Cagliostro left an indelible mark on history with his involvement in Freemasonry and his enigmatic persona. One of the most iconic images of Cagliostro is captured in Francesco Bartolozzi's creation. The engraving depicts a magical seance conducted by Cagliostro himself, showcasing his connection to mysticism and the occult. This image perfectly encapsulates his reputation as the founder of the Egyptian Rite within Freemasonry. Another captivating moment from Cagliostro's life is portrayed in a chromolitho artwork where he is seen alongside Marie Antoinette at Versailles' Petit Trianon. This depiction highlights his influence among high society during that time period. However, not all moments were glamorous for this enigmatic character. In another portrayal, we witness him facing the Inquisition in Rome on April 14th, 1791. This event showcases the controversy surrounding him and adds to the air of mystery that surrounded his life. Cagliostro was also believed to possess extraordinary powers; one such power being depicted through an anonymous artist's portrait showing him creating an Homunculus within his cabinet. These supernatural abilities only added to both fascination and skepticism surrounding him. Throughout history, artists have been captivated by Count Alessandro di Cagliostro's intriguing personality. Duhamel du Monceau created a portrait capturing him around 1781 while Lampi painted another rendition of this mysterious count later on. Jean-Antoine Houdon took inspiration from Cagliostro for a detailed sculpture dating back to 1786 which beautifully captures every intricate detail of this charismatic figure. Whether you view Count Alessandro di Cagliostro as a magician or charlatan, there is no denying the lasting impact he had on history.