Frontispiece, 'Queenly St. Ursula' (La Regina Sant'Orsola), from a series of prints for the performance of the St. Ursula tragedy, presented in Florence at the beginning of the 17th century

Art Historical Context

This frontispiece by Alfonso Parigi introduces a series of prints created for the St. Ursula tragedy, a religious drama performed in Florence at the start of the seventeenth century. Dating from about 1640–1656, the small etching—measuring just 4 5/8 by 2 5/8 inches—combines precise line work with delicate pen-and-ink additions. It served as the opening image for a set of illustrations that documented or commemorated the spectacle, reflecting the era’s taste for elaborate sacred theater. Parigi, a leading Florentine architect, stage designer, and printmaker, came from a family celebrated for creating courtly entertainments and early opera productions. His frontispiece would have introduced audiences to the story of Saint Ursula, portrayed here as a regal figure amid dynamic scenes of human characters and animals. Such prints helped preserve the visual impact of live performances long after the curtain fell. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, the work offers a charming window into Baroque Florence, where art, devotion, and theatrical innovation flourished together. Its modest size belies the grandeur of the events it evokes.