Landschap met rivier en stad

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 246 mm x breedte 355 mm

Art Historical Context

This etching, titled *Landschap met rivier en stad* (Landscape with River and City), was created by Davide Antonio Fossati in 1743. Measuring 246 by 355 millimeters, the print exemplifies the refined landscape tradition popular in 18th-century Europe. Fossati, an artist active in Venice and northern Italy, used the etching medium to capture atmospheric views that appealed to both local collectors and international travelers on the Grand Tour. Etching allowed artists like Fossati to achieve delicate lines and tonal effects that evoke the play of light across water and architecture. The composition likely draws on the idealized scenery of the Venetian mainland or Alpine regions, blending natural elements with distant urban forms to create a sense of tranquil harmony. Such prints were widely circulated, serving as affordable alternatives to paintings and helping spread picturesque ideals across Europe. Today the work offers modern viewers a window into 18th-century tastes for refined, contemplative landscapes. Its modest size and precise technique highlight the intimate viewing experience these etchings were designed to provide.

About the Artist

Davide Antonio Fossati · 1708–1789

Davide Antonio Fossati (1708-1795) was a Swiss-Italian painter and etcher who specialized in fresco painting, particularly architectural and decorative works. Born at Morcote, Ticino, Switzerland in 1708, Fossati moved to Venice in 1720 at the young age of twelve, where he would spend most of his professional life working on decorative commissions for noble palaces and important churches across th...