Constantine Presenting the City of Rome to the Holy See
Original title: Constantine Presenting the City of Rome to the Holy See, at right, many spectators throughout, a child playing with a dog in the foreground
kurzbeschreibung
Battista Franco made this print, which shows Emperor Constantine handing over a model of the city of Rome to the Church. It was executed as an etching with engraving around 1530–61.
Description
A sumptuous, classicizing interior reminiscent of an ancient basilica sets the stage. In the foreground, people in traditional dress have settled or kneel, some wearing headscarves; a child plays with a dog. On a raised platform in the background stands a group, from whose midst one figure—likely Constantine—holds up a model of the city. The layout is symmetrical, with the main figure placed centrally and surrounded by others on the podium. The rendering remains monochrome, with even lighting and detailed lines and hatching that create depth and structure.
Context
This work was made in the mid-16th century, when artists such as Battista Franco were active in Rome and engaged with ancient and early Christian subjects. Franco was influenced by Roman antiquity and the work of Michelangelo, evident in the monumental arrangement of figures. The handover of Rome to the pope refers to the Donation of Constantine—a legend widespread in the Middle Ages that was used to justify the papacy's secular rule.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and calm, even lighting give the print a solemn, dignified presence. Figures and architecture are rendered in such detail that they invite close looking and emphasize the historical weight of the event.
Technique
The etching was additionally worked over with a burin, producing fine lines and precise shading. The combination of etching and engraving techniques results in high detail and a clear rendering of the multi-layered scene.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)