Antieke buste van keizer Hadrianus 1678

Etienne Baudet created this engraving, "Antique Bust of Emperor Hadrian", sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Notice how Baudet’s composition meticulously captures the texture and form of the marble bust, employing delicate lines to define Hadrian’s curly hair and beard. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to sculpt three-dimensional forms and add depth, rendering the textures of fabric, stone, and skin. Consider how the artist creates a sense of dynamism within the static form through the contrasting textures, particularly in the drapery and armor, imbuing the emperor's image with vitality and power. Baudet invites us to consider how the visual language of classical art—with its emphasis on order and reason—was being reinterpreted and repurposed during the Enlightenment. The engraving serves not merely as a reproduction, but as an active re-engagement with classical ideals through the lens of Baroque aesthetics.