Second View of the Baths of Diocletian, from set of Roman Ruins
1550
Medium
Etching with plate tone
Dimensions
plate: 8 5/8 x 12 in. (21.9 x 30.5 cm) sheet: 9 1/8 x 12 1/2 in. (23.1 x 31.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Leo Steinberg, 2009
Accession Number
2009.290.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the grandeur of ancient Rome through *Second View of the Baths of Diletian*, a captivating etching by Flemish artist printmaker Hieronymus, created in 1550. Part of his acclaimed *set of Roman Ruins this work captures the majestic yet decayed Baths of Diocletian—one of Rome's largest and most opulent public bath complexes, built in the early 4th century CE. Cock's precise rendering evokes the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity, blending nostalgia for imperial splendor with the poignant beauty of ruin. As a master engraver from Antwerp, Cock played a pivotal role in dis...
About the Artist
Hieronymus Cock · 1510–1570
Hieronymus Cock, born Hieronymus Wellens de Cock in Antwerp in 1518, emerged from a distinguished artistic lineage; his father, Jan Wellens de Cock, and brother, Matthys Cock, were both accomplished painters and draftsmen. Admitted as a master painter to Antwerp's Guild of Saint Luke in 1545, he honed his skills in the vibrant Netherlandish tradition before traveling to Rome from 1546 to 1547, whe...