Artwork
Cap. Bonbardon and Cap. Grillo

Cap. Bonbardon and Cap. Grillo is an ink print by the Baroque artist French 17th Century. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is an etching on laid paper that presents two individuals, identified as Cap.
About this work
Overview
The work is an etching on laid paper that presents two individuals, identified as Cap. Bonbardon and Cap. Grillo, positioned centrally within a lively composition. The left figure clutches a staff and wears a hat, while the right figure extends an arm and dons a feather‑adorned hat, set against a pale backdrop populated by a small crowd.
Subject & Meaning
The print foregrounds the two captains, suggesting a narrative or ceremonial encounter. Their distinct attire and gestures—Bonbardon’s staff and Grillo’s outstretched arm—imply roles of authority or dialogue, while the assembled onlookers in the distance reinforce a communal context for the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed through traditional etching, the artist employs pronounced line work and careful shading to model forms and convey spatial depth. The contrast of bold outlines with delicate hatching creates texture on the paper, highlighting the figures against the lighter background.
History & Provenance
Created as a print rather than a painted work, the piece belongs to the broader tradition of 19th‑century etchings that circulated as multiples. Specific details about its origin, date, or previous owners are not recorded in the available information.
Context
Etching on laid paper was a common medium for disseminating images of public figures and events, allowing artists to reach a wider audience. The depiction of two captains aligns with contemporary interests in military or civic portraiture, reflecting the social hierarchies of the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Seventeenth-century French printmakers turned ink into story. Their tools were burin and acid, paper their stage. Look at the Beggar Woman with Rosary (1622), etched on laid paper, her hands folded around faith, or The…


















