Plate 12: a shepherd sleeping on the ground to right, three horses to left, other horses and various figures to right, the Baths of Diocletian in the background, a round composition, from 'Roman landscapes and ruins' (Paysages et ruines de Rome)

Art Historical Context

In this enchanting etching, Plate 12 from Stefano della Bella's series * Landscapes and Ruins* (*Paysages et ruines de Rome*), created around 1643–48, a shepherd dozes peacefully on the ground the right, while three horses graze to the left. Additional horses and figures bustle to the right, all framed against the majestic ruins of the Baths of Dioclet in the background. The circular composition draws the eye into a harmonious blend of pastoral idyll and ancient grandeur,oking the timeless allure of Rome. Stefano della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher active in Paris, collaborated with publisher François Langlois to produce this series, capturing 17th-century views of the Eternal City's decaying monuments. Etching's fine lines allowed della Bella to render intricate details—from the textured ruins to the lively animals and figures—with remarkable precision, making these prints accessible souvenirs for Grand Tour travelers fascinated by classical antiquity. The Baths of Diocletian, once the largest complex of its kind, symbolized Rome's imperial past, inspiring artists during the Baroque era's revival of ancient themes. This intimate 5 3/8 x 5 1/2-inch sheet, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the bequest of Phyllis Massar, invites us to linger on the shepherd's serene slumber amid ruins, reminding visitors of nature's quiet reclaiming of history. A delightful window into 17th-century Rome!

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|François Langlois · 1610–1664

Stefano della Bella (1610-1664) was one of the most prolific and versatile printmakers of the Italian Baroque period, leaving behind 1,052 prints and several thousand drawings that captured the vivid essence of 17th-century European life. Born in Florence on May 18, 1610, to a family of artists, he trained initially as a goldsmith before studying painting under Cesare Dandini and etching under Rem...