Artwork
Landscape with Resting Herdsmen
Landscape with Resting Herdsmen is an ink print by the Baroque artist Ercole Bazicaluva. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ercole Bazzicaluva’s 1638 print, *Landscape with Resting Herdsmen*, is executed in etching and engraving on laid paper. The work belongs to the Baroque period and presents a tranquil rural scene where herdsmen pause beside a stream, framed by detailed trees and rock formations.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a quiet moment in a pastoral setting: a small group of herdsmen rests while their livestock grazes nearby. The figures are secondary to the surrounding landscape, emphasizing the harmony between humans and nature in a serene, everyday context.
Technique & Style
Bazzicaluva combines etching and engraving to achieve fine line work and varied tonal contrasts. The use of chiaroscuro—light and shadow—creates a sense of depth, while the texture of the laid paper enhances the rendering of foliage and stone, reflecting Baroque sensibilities toward atmospheric effects.
History & Provenance
Created in 1638, the print entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in early modern Italian printmaking and the artist’s role within the 17th‑century Baroque tradition.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ercole Bazzicaluva, also spelled Bezzicaluva or Bazzicaluve (active 1640), was an Italian engraver of the Baroque period.
