Canto 31, Stanza 70, from "Orlando Furioso" 1774

This 1774 etching by Nicolas de Launay is a dramatic illustration for Canto 31, Stanza 70 of Ludovico Ariosto's epic poem *Orlando Furioso*. The scene depicts a knight on horseback charging into a turbulent sea, his horse's hooves churning the water as he plunges toward a fallen figure below. De Launay's use of dramatic lines and the artist's expert depiction of motion make the scene a lively one, capturing the intensity of the moment. This print is part of a larger series that illustrated a 1774 edition of *Orlando Furioso*. *Orlando Furioso* was published in 1516, and tells the tale of the knight Orlando, who goes mad with love for the beautiful Angelica.