Plate 27: The female personification of Fortitude, holding a pillar and stroking a lion; from the 'Galeria nel Palazzo Farnese in Roma ... dipinta da Annibale Caracci'

Art Historical Context

Behold Plate 27 from the celebrated series *Galeria nel Farnese in Roma*, an exquisite etching capturing Annibale Carracci's fresco of Fortitude, the female personification of strength. Here, she gracefully holds a pillar—symbolizing endurance—while gently stroking a lion, evoking mastery over wild forces. Created in 1657 by etchers Carlo Cesi, François Coll, and Arnold van Wester after Carracci's original, this intimate print measures just 5 7/8 × 4 1/8 inches, perfect for collectors' cabinets. Annibale Carracci, a pioneer of Baroque art, painted the Galleria Farnese frescoes (ca. 1597–1604) in Rome's Palazzo Farnese, blending classical mythology with vibrant naturalism and emotional depth. This series of etchings faithfully reproduced those ceiling masterpieces, making their ornamental splendor accessible beyond the palace walls during the 17th century's print boom. Etching's fine lines allowed precise translation of Carracci's dynamic figures and architectural motifs, highlighting the era's fascination with *virtù*—moral virtues personified. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this print exemplifies how reproductive art democratized High Renaissance and early Baroque genius for admirers worldwide.

About the Artist

Carlo Cesi|François Collignon|Arnold van Westerhout|Annibale Carracci · 1612–1692

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