Who painted Beech Tree with the Bell (Faggio della campana) [plate X]?

Beech Tree with the Bell (Faggio della campana) [plate X] was painted by Jacopo Ligozzi in 1612.

Where can I see Beech Tree with the Bell (Faggio della campana) [plate X]?

Beech Tree with the Bell (Faggio della campana) [plate X] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Beech Tree with the Bell (Faggio della campana) [plate X]?

Beech Tree with the Bell (Faggio della campana) [plate X] is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Beech Tree with the Bell (Faggio della campana) [plate X]

Jacopo Ligozzi , 1612

Beech Tree with the Bell (Faggio della campana) [plate X] is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacopo Ligozzi. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacopo Ligozzi’s *Beech Tree with the Bell* is an early‑17th‑century etching, dated 1612. Executed on a metal plate and printed in black ink, the work measures a modest size typical of Ligozzi’s prints. It belongs chronologically to the late Renaissance and Mannerist era, a time when artists were exploring heightened naturalism alongside stylized composition.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes the solidity of nature with human activity, hinting at a dialogue between the natural world and communal life.

The image centers on a solitary beech tree whose twisted roots and branches embrace a hanging bell. Beneath the tree a diminutive house and a narrow path suggest a rural settlement, while three figures—one with a staff, another gesturing upward, and a third looking down—populate the foreground. The composition juxtaposes the solidity of nature with human activity, hinting at a dialogue between the natural world and communal life.

Technique & Style

Ligozzi employed the etching process, incising lines into a copper plate with acid before inking and pressing onto paper. The print is characterized by fine, precise linework and a network of cross‑hatching that creates subtle tonal variations. Rough, sketch‑like strokes and delicate shadows give the scene a lively texture, reflecting Ligozzi’s background as an illustrator and miniaturist who favored meticulous detail.

History & Provenance

Created during Ligozzi’s mature period (1547‑1627), the plate was likely produced for a limited audience of collectors interested in naturalistic studies. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has survived in several museum and library collections, attesting to its continued relevance as an example of early 17th‑century printmaking and the artist’s interdisciplinary practice.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacopo Ligozzi

Jacopo Ligozzi (1547–1627) was an Italian painter, illustrator, designer, and miniaturist. His art can be categorized as late-Renaissance and Mannerist styles.