Piazza Publicca, Siena
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed to plate mark): 7.6 × 9.9 cm (3 × 3 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
R.L. Baumfeld Collection
Accession Number
1969.15.358
Art Historical Context
Behold the intimate etching *Piazza Publicca,*, a captivating glimpse into 17th-century Italian urban life. Created by an anonymous Italian artist around 1610–1660 (formerly attributed to the renowned etcher Jacques Callot), this small print measures just 7.6 × 9.9 cm, trimmed to the plate mark, on laid paper—a period staple valued for its subtle texture that enhanced ink retention in fine-line techniques. Etching, a revolutionary printmaking method involving acid-bitten metal plates, allowed for exquisite detail in bustling scenes like Siena's famed public square (likely the Piazza del Campo...