Pompa Introitus Honori ... Ferdinandi Austriaci ... (Entry of Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand into Antwerp, April 17, 1635)
Original title: Pompa Introitus Honori .. Ferdinandi Austriaci ... " (Entry of Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand into Antwerp, April 17, 1635)
kurzbeschreibung
Peter Paul Rubens supplied the design for this engraving, printed in 1642, which records the festive entry of Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand into Antwerp on 17 April 1635. A procession of riders appears together with a group of figures in the foreground. The sheet belongs to a series Rubens conceived for the occasion.
Description
Up front, a bearded man sprays water from a vessel into the air, while two women rest on the ground to either side of him. Beyond them several men ride horses and carry banners; some wear armor, others plain clothing. Figures are scattered briskly across the sheet, giving it a palpable sense of movement and energy. The backdrop stays sketchy, which pushes the foreground group forward. Everything is printed in a single color, the light falls evenly, and no shadows are discernible.
Context
Antwerp commissioned Rubens to design the festive architecture for Ferdinand's entry. The engraving itself dates from 1642, after Rubens's death, and derives from his designs. The series documents the ephemeral triumphal arches and decorations erected for the event. Ferdinand served as governor of the Spanish Netherlands and was ceremonially received in Antwerp in 1635.
Impact
The lively dispersal of figures evokes the mood of a bustling procession and draws the viewer into the action. Because the foreground figures are detailed and the backdrop abbreviated, a clear visual hierarchy emerges. The Baroque style, with its strong contrasts, lends the image depth and drama.
Technique
This sheet is an engraving: the drawing is incised into a copper plate and then printed. The lines come out fine and precise, as was customary in the seventeenth century for reproducing paintings and festive decorations. The print is monochrome and relies on contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)