Francesco d'Este Leads the French Army After the Difficult Resolution of Cremona without Losing Men or Belongings due to the Duke's Prudence and Corageous Strength, from L'Idea di un Principe ed Eroe Cristiano in Francesco I d'Este, di Modena e Reggio Duca VIII [...] 1659

Bartolomeo Fenice created this print titled, 'Francesco d'Este Leads the French Army...' The etching presents a landscape dominated by linear precision and a stark contrast between the detailed foreground and the expansive background. The composition is structured around the receding perspective, drawing the eye from the commanding figures in the front to the distant conflict near Cremona. This structured recession not only gives depth but organizes the narrative, emphasizing the Duke's leadership amidst chaos. The artist employs line work to define forms. Notice how the dense lines in the lower left and right create a sense of mass, while the sparser, fainter lines create the illusion of distance. The plume of smoke rising from the battle is rendered with swirling lines, in contrast to the rigid lines of the soldiers, and introduces an element of dynamism. Fenice uses the structured composition to deliver a clear message, which is common in propaganda.