Plate 4: landscape with man leading a pack horse across a wooden bridge, three figures in right foreground, the silhouette of a man standing at a fence beyond, from 'Landscapes'

Art Historical Context

This etching, created between 1723 and 1730 by Marco Ricci in collaboration with Carlo Orsolini, forms Plate 4 from the series *Landscapes*. The scene captures a tranquil rural moment: a man guides a pack horse across a wooden bridge, while three figures converse in the right foreground and a lone silhouette stands at a distant fence. Rendered in the delicate lines of etching, the composition emphasizes the harmony between human activity and the natural environment, inviting viewers to pause and appreciate the everyday rhythms of the countryside. Etchings like this one played a vital role in the early eighteenth century by making landscape imagery widely accessible beyond painted originals. Ricci, known for his Venetian training and focus on atmospheric views, helped elevate the genre through such print series, blending observation with a sense of quiet drama. The medium’s fine tonal variations beautifully convey the textures of wood, water, and foliage, highlighting the artists’ technical skill. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through the bequest of Phyllis Massar, this print offers a window into the period’s growing appreciation for landscape as both a visual delight and a reflection of human connection to place. Its detailed yet balanced design continues to charm visitors with its timeless appeal.

About the Artist

Marco Ricci|Carlo Orsolini · 1676–1730

Marco Ricci (1676–1730) was born on June 6 in Belluno, in the Republic of Venice, into a family steeped in artistic tradition as the nephew of the renowned Baroque painter Sebastiano Ricci. He received his first instruction in art from his uncle, likely during a period in Milan from 1694 to 1696, before accompanying Sebastiano to Venice in 1696, from which he soon fled amid personal troubles. Ricc...