Six Nymphs and Two Cupids in a Landscape

Art Historical Context

In the enchanting etching *Six Nymphs and Cupids in a Landscape (1744), Venetian artist Francesco Fontebasso captures the playful spirit of Rococo fantasy. Fontebasso, a prominent figure in 18th-century Venice alongside masters like Giambattista Tiepolo, revels in mythological themes here: graceful nymphs disporting amid a lush, idyllic landscape, attended by mischievous cupids. This scene evokes the era's delight in classical antiquity, blending sensuality with whimsy to celebrate love and nature's abundance. Created as an etching on laid paper—a technique where acid bites intricate lines into a copper plate for inking and printing—Fontebasso's work showcases his mastery of fluid, expressive lines that mimic the soft curves of Rococo ornamentation. Measuring nearly 28 x 39 cm on the plate, the print allowed broader access to his designs beyond oil paintings, reflecting the growing popularity of reproductive prints in Enlightenment Europe. Laid paper's subtle texture enhances the etching's delicate tonalities, inviting viewers to trace the figures' dynamic poses. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Prints department (gift of Karin Wachtel in memory of Cesare Morini), this piece highlights Fontebasso's versatility before his later Russian sojourn. It offers a window into Venice's vibrant artistic scene, where etching bridged elite patronage and public appreciation.

About the Artist

Francesco Fontebasso · 1707–1769

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