Dedication Plate
1710
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1710
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows two figures floating in a swirl of clouds and scrolls. The woman in the center holds a shield with a lion and a banner that says *"Costantinobili."* Above her, a cherubic figure blows a trumpet while fire bursts behind him. The text around them reads like a dedication to a prince. The lion on the shield and the dramatic clouds suggest this isn’t just a portrait—it’s a symbolic scene. The artist used fine lines to create depth, making the figures look almost three-dimensional despite being ink on paper. Want to see how this kind of detailed linework was made? Look up etching.
![Renouvellement d'Alliance avec les Suisses 1663 (Renewal of Alliance with the Swiss 1663) [pl. 18]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/b0549fa383211be6/thumb.webp)