Who painted December?

December was painted by Ludovico Mattioli in 1601.

Where can I see December?

December is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is December?

December is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

December

Ludovico Mattioli , 1601

December is an ink print by the Baroque artist Ludovico Mattioli. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Ludovico Mattioli’s print titled December, executed in 1601, is an etching on laid paper. The work captures a winter landscape dominated by a frozen river and a snow‑covered ground, rendered in a muted palette that emphasizes the season’s stillness. A small inscription of the title appears at the bottom, identifying the scene as a depiction of December.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a quiet, cold day in which two diminutive figures walk along the icy riverbank, their presence underscoring human endurance amid a stark environment. Bare trees line the left side against an overcast sky, while a cluster of modest buildings clusters near a low hill on the right, suggesting a modest settlement confronting the season’s severity.

Technique & Style

Mattioli employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate before transferring the image onto laid paper. The delicate hatching conveys textures such as the rough bark of the trees, the folds of the figures’ cloaks, and the glittering surface of the frozen water. The overall tonal restraint and precise line work reflect the early‑17th‑century Italian printmaking aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Created in 1601, December belongs to the period when Mattioli was active in Rome, producing prints that often illustrated everyday scenes. While specific ownership records are scarce, the print has been catalogued in several collections of early modern Italian etchings, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of the era and its preservation in museum holdings today.