Soldiers, one shown frontally and holding a sword, at right a soldier with his back turned and holding a cup, four soldiers standing behind them with standards and spears, after the lost frescoes by Polidoro da Caravaggio on the façade of the Milesi Palace in Via della Maschera d'Oro, Rome
Original title: Soldiers, one shown frontally and holding a sword, at right a soldier with his back turned and holding a cup, four soldiers standing behind them with standards and spears, after the lost frescoes by Polidoro da Caravaggio on the façade of the Milesi Palace in Via della Maschera d'Oro, Rome
kurzbeschreibung
Giovanni Francesco Venturini's etching, made between 1650 and 1700, stands apart from related depictions of soldiers because it is tied directly to a lost wall painting by Polidoro da Caravaggio. Five figures dressed in antique-style garb appear, rendered in etching and engraving. The model was the frescoes on the facade of the Palazzo Milesi in Rome, which no longer exist.
Description
Two figures dominate the foreground: one turns toward the viewer with a raised sword, the other faces away holding a cup. Three more soldiers stand behind them, equipped with spears and banners. In the upper area, columns or similar architectural elements are suggested, with flags hanging from them. Monochrome and evenly lit, the image stays wholly true to printmaking; realistic traits combine with historicizing details in clothing and equipment.
Context
The source was Polidoro da Caravaggio's frescoes, made around 1525–1527 on the facade of the Palazzo Milesi in Rome and later lost. Venturini produced his etching in the seventeenth century as a reproductive print to record the vanished murals. Prints of this kind helped spread motifs from antiquity and the Renaissance. The Palazzo Milesi stood on the Via della Maschera d'Oro, today's Via dei Coronari.
Impact
The contrast between the two front poses, one facing us and one turned away, gives the layout tension and a theatrical quality. The antique-style trappings summon an elevated historical mood. Despite the monochrome approach, precise linework lends the figures a sculptural presence.
Technique
Etching and engraving are combined here, allowing both exact lines and fine hatching. The paper format exceeds the size of the printing plate, which suggests a wide margin. The chosen technique permits a detailed rendering of the figures and their gear.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)