Parade float in the form of a ship, coat of arms of the Grand Duke of Modena at top 1652

This etching of a parade float was made by Stefano della Bella in the 17th century. Its most striking feature is the central composition: a large ship sailing through a circle of figures within a stadium-like structure. The image is dominated by circular forms, from the ring of spectators to the procession of participants, drawing our eyes towards the ship at the center. Della Bella masterfully uses line and perspective to create depth and to convey movement. The precise, delicate etching technique lends a sense of theatricality, appropriate for the depiction of such a spectacle. Consider how the ship, adorned with the coat of arms of the Grand Duke of Modena, transforms the parade into a symbolic performance of power and prestige. The circular arrangement of the figures, reminiscent of ancient amphitheaters, frames the event within historical and cultural precedents, elevating the Grand Duke's status through visual association with classical grandeur. The print functions as both a record and an enhancement of the event, emphasizing the spectacle and symbolic significance of the parade through meticulously rendered detail and dynamic composition.