Banquet of the Piacevoli, various men are seated at long tables around the perimeter of a large room, a man seated to the right giving a dog table scraps, curtains are draped around the image, Medici coat of arms at top center 1627

Stefano della Bella made this print, Banquet of the Piacevoli, sometime between 1610 and 1664 using etching. It is a process using metal, acid, and immense skill. Consider the labor that went into this image. First, the copper plate had to be prepared and coated with a waxy substance. Then, Della Bella would have used a sharp needle to draw through the wax, exposing the metal beneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. After removing the wax, the plate was inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, strong pressure was applied to transfer the ink to paper. The result? A precise depiction of a grand banquet, complete with intricate details of the figures, architecture, and even the Medici coat of arms. This print offers a fascinating glimpse into the spectacle of aristocratic life, but also, the immense labor involved in producing this image, a testament to the rich, and complex interplay of art, craft, and social status.