Six Nymphs and Two Cupids in a Landscape

Executed through etching, the artist incised lines into a metal plate, then transferred the image onto paper, employing fine hatching and tonal shading to convey depth and texture. The delicate line work and light, ornamental quality align the piece with the Rococo aesthetic that favored elegance and decorative charm.

The etching was produced by Francesco Fontebasso, a Venetian painter trained under Sebastiano Ricci and influenced by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Though primarily known for large decorative commissions, including projects in Saint Petersburg, Fontebasso also explored printmaking, of which this work is a representative example.

Emerging in the late Baroque period, the piece reflects the transition toward Rococo sensibilities in Venice, where artists favored mythological subjects rendered with a lighter, more decorative approach. The inclusion of nymphs and cupids aligns with contemporary tastes for playful, pastoral scenes.