Palazzo Spinolla, Genoa
Medium
etching
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1975.23.32
Art Historical Context
Behold the elegant etching *Palazzo Spinola,* (1681), crafted by German engraver Melchior Kü after a design by Johann Wilhelm Baur. This intricate print captures the grandeur of the Spinola family's opulent palace in Genoa, Italy—a testament to the city's 17th-century prosperity as a maritime republic. The Spinola were among Genoa's most powerful banking dynasties, and their palazzo exemplified Baroque architecture with its lavish facades, sculpted details, and harmonious proportions. Etching, Küsel's chosen medium, allowed for fine lines and rich tonal contrasts, making it ideal for architec...