Triumphal arch surmounted by a statue representing the city of Bologna, buildings seen through the arch below, a temporary decoration for the entry of Pope Clement VIII in Bologna in 1598
1598
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 8 9/16 × 5 7/8 in. (21.7 × 15 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1937
Accession Number
37.35.2(3)
Tags
Art Historical Context
In 1598, Bologna buzzed with excitement as Pope Clement VIII made a grand entry into the city, marked by elaborate temporary decorations designed to honor his visit. This etching by Guido Reni captures one such spectacle: a towering triumphal arch crowned by a statue symbolizing Bologna herself, with the city's buildings visible through its grand opening below. These ephemeral structures, inspired by ancient Roman architecture, were common in Renaissance and Baroque Europe to celebrate papal or royal processions, blending civic pride with religious pomp. Guido Reni, a Bolognese artist of the ...
About the Artist
Guido Reni · 1575–1642
Guido Reni (1575–1642) was one of the most celebrated Italian painters of the Baroque era and the dominant figure of the Bolognese School. Born into a family of musicians in Bologna, he trained first with Denys Calvaert before joining the influential Accademia degli Incamminati led by Ludovico Carracci. Reni achieved international fame through his idealizing style that combined Baroque dynamism wi...