The columns of the Temple of Antoninus to right, a part of the Campo Vaccino in center and at left, along with various animals and figures, the Palatine ruins in the background, from 'Six large views, four of Rome, and two of the Roman countryside' (Six grandes vues, dont quatre de Rome et deux de la Campagne romaine)

Art Historical Context

In Stefano della Bella's etching *The columns of the Temple Antoninus to right, a part of the Campo Vacc in center and at left along with various animals and, the Palatine ruins the background* (1656), the artist captures the evocative ruins of ancient Rome with remarkable detail. This work is part of his series *Six large views, of Rome, and two of the Roman countryside*, showcasing the eternal city's layered history. To the right rise the sturdy columns of the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, a 2nd-century AD structure repurposed as a church; the central Campo Vaccino—once the Roman Forum, ...

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella · 1610–1664

Stefano della Bella (1610-1664) was one of the most prolific and versatile printmakers of the Italian Baroque period, leaving behind 1,052 prints and several thousand drawings that captured the vivid essence of 17th-century European life. Born in Florence on May 18, 1610, to a family of artists, he trained initially as a goldsmith before studying painting under Cesare Dandini and etching under Rem...