Artwork
Gardens of Cardinal Aldobrandini, Frascati
Gardens of Cardinal Aldobrandini, Frascati is an ink print by the Baroque artist Melchior Küsel. It dates from 1681 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Gardens of Cardinal Aldobrandini, Frascati is a 1681 etching by Melchior Küsel, depicting a meticulously designed garden landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The print portrays the opulent gardens of Cardinal Aldobrandini in Frascati, showcasing architectural features, ornate details, and serene activity, highlighting the site's intended grandeur and hospitality.
Technique & Style
Executed in black-and-white etching, Küsel's work demonstrates meticulous attention to detail, capturing intricate textures, from trimmed foliage to architectural elements, in a characteristic Baroque attention to ornament.
History & Provenance
Created in 1681, the etching documents the historical appearance of the Cardinal's gardens, with the included text confirming the location, though the current whereabouts of the original gardens or the etching's ownership history are not specified here.
Context
This etching reflects the 17th-century European fascination with formal garden design, often associated with wealth and status, as embodied by Cardinal Aldobrandini's estate in Frascati.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Palace and Canal, Cardinal di Ferrara, Tivoli
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 1
Title Page
The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1769: A "Deliziosa"
Grotto, Monta Tragone
The Seconda Macchina for the Chinea of 1774: A Villa with Ancient Monuments and a Game of "Giostra"
Gardens, Duke d'Altems
The Roman Forum (Le Campo Vaccino)
Capitoline, Rome
The Seconda Macchina for the Chinea of 1771: A Pleasure Palace Dedicated to Bacchus