View of the Tiber (Tivoli) (Prospectus Tyburtinus), from "The Large Landscapes"
Original title: View of the Tiber (Tivoli) (Prospectus Tyburtinus), from "The Large Landscapes"
kurzbeschreibung
Johannes van Doetecum I made this etching and engraving, Blick auf den Tiber (Tivoli) (Prospectus Tyburtinus), around 1555–56. It gives a wide view of the river landscape near Tivoli and belongs to the series Die großen Landschaften. The sheet is the second state of two.
Description
In the foreground, riverbanks and rocks frame the view; some look natural, others seem built by human hands. Several people are scattered across the scene, some at work, others resting. A town with churches, towers and fortifications rises in the distance. Trees and bushes structure the landscape in rich detail, and the whole remains monochrome in shades of grey. A clearly articulated horizon deepens the space, and the light falls evenly.
Context
The series Die großen Landschaften was produced in the Netherlands in the mid-sixteenth century, when landscape was increasingly regarded as a genre in its own right. Johannes van Doetecum I worked as a copper engraver and printer in Antwerp, a centre of European printmaking. Tivoli near Rome was a popular subject because the town was known for its ancient ruins and picturesque waterfalls. A design by another artist probably served as the model, as was customary in printmaking of the time.
Impact
The nuanced linework and graduated greys convey a calm, reflective mood. Because the landscape is described in detail and enlivened with human figures, the print gains narrative qualities and invites lingering. Even lighting and a clear structure feel balanced and harmonious.
Technique
The print was made by combining etching and engraving: etching allows fine lines and soft transitions, while engraving sets precise contours and details. It was printed in black on paper, as was usual for sixteenth-century prints. The second state may show reworking or additions compared with the first.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)