Plate 12: a shepherd sleeping on the ground to right, three horses to left, other horses and various figures to right, the Baths of Diocletian in the background, a round composition, from 'Roman landscapes and ruins' (Paysages et ruines de Rome) 1643 - 1648

"Plate 12: a shepherd sleeping on the ground to right, three horses to left, other horses and various figures to right, the Baths of Diocletian in the background, a round composition, from 'Roman landscapes and ruins' (Paysages et ruines de Rome)" is an etching by Stefano della Bella, dating to 1643 - 1648, and is part of a larger series on the ruins of Rome. The round composition, set against the Baths of Diocletian, captures the drama of a Roman ruin with its scale and visual presence. Della Bella, a prominent 17th-century Italian artist, is known for his detailed and elegant etchings. The print is a beautiful example of his masterful use of line to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The artwork, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, was a key component in the growing appreciation for Roman ruins during the Baroque era.