Francesco I d'Este Displays Great Faculty in his Studies, from L'Idea di un Principe ed Eroe Cristiano in Francesco I d'Este, di Modena e Reggio Duca VIII [...] 1659

This etching by Bartolomeo Fenice (Fénis), titled "Francesco I d'Este Displays Great Faculty in his Studies," depicts Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio, engaged in scholarly pursuits. The scene is set in a room with a bookcase filled with volumes, a table with a celestial globe, and other scientific instruments, highlighting the Duke's intellectual pursuits. The etching is part of a larger work celebrating the Duke's virtues. The composition emphasizes the Duke's position as a ruler who is both learned and pious. This work exemplifies the Baroque artistic style of the 17th century, combining realism with dramatic composition and detailed rendering of figures and objects.