Plate XIX (19): Diana, from "Museum Florentinum" (Statuae antiquae dorum et virorum illustrium)

Art Historical Context

Behold Plate XIX from the grand 18th-century publication *Museum Florentinum a meticulous catalog of ancient statues housed in Florence's Uffizi Gallery. Titled *Diana*, this 1734 engraving and etching the Roman goddess of the hunt in poised elegance, accompanied by her loyal hounds—a nod to her mythological role as protector of women and fierce huntress. Created by Genaro Gutiérrez and Domenico Campiglia, Italian masters of reproductive printmaking, it exemplifies the era's passion for classical antiquity. Engraving and etching techniques allowed for exquisite detail in translating three-dimensional marble into intricate two-dimensional lines, making these prints accessible to scholars, collectors, and Grand Tour travelers across Europe. Measuring about 15 by 10 inches on the sheet, this work from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department preserves the sculptural drama through fine cross-hatching and tonal depth, evoking the original statue's vitality. As part of a series documenting "Statuae antiquae dorum et virorum illustrium" (ancient statues of gods and illustrious men), it fueled the Neoclassical revival, inspiring artists like Canova. Today, bequeathed by Mrs. Charles Wrightsman in 2019, it invites us to marvel at Diana's timeless grace and the enduring allure of Greco-Roman myth.

About the Artist

Genaro Gutiérrez|Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (Spanish|Italian) · 1788 |1692 –1798 |1768

Spanish, active Madrid, ca. 1793|Italian, Lucca, 1692–1768