Plate 9: the Arch of Constantine to left, seen from the side, part of the Colosseum to right, various horses and figures in foreground and background, a round composition, from 'Roman landscapes and ruins' (Paysages et ruines de Rome)

Art Historical Context

Step into the grandeur of ancient Rome through Stefano della Bella's *Plate 9* from the series *Roman Landscapes and Ruins*Paysages et ru de Rome), created around 1643–48. This enchanting etching captures side view of the majestic Arch of Constantine on the, with a portion of the Colosseum to the right. The round composition draws the eye into a bustling scene of ruins alive with horses, figures, and distant, blending decay with everyday vitality in 17th-century Rome. Della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher renowned for his intricate line work and dynamic compositions, collaborated with publisher François Langlois to produce this diminutive yet detailed print (5 1/8 x 5 3/16 in.). Etching's fine lines allowed him to convey texture—from weathered stone to the motion of galloping horses—evoking the sublime beauty of classical antiquity amid Baroque-era rediscovery. Printed during the height of the Grand Tour, when European artists flocked to Rome, this work reflects a cultural obsession with imperial ruins as symbols of enduring legacy. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection (Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011), it invites visitors to ponder Rome's layered history, where ancient triumphs echo through time.

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...