Plate 6: cows crossing a valley at left, a horseman and other cows in the background, from 'Roman landscapes and ruins' (Paysages et ruines de Rome) 1641 - 1651

This etching, "Plate 6: cows crossing a valley at left, a horseman and other cows in the background, from 'Roman landscapes and ruins' (Paysages et ruines de Rome)," by Italian artist Stefano della Bella (1610-1664), is a fine example of 17th-century landscape art. The image depicts a serene scene of a winding valley with cows, a horseman, and a distant castle. The use of delicate lines and subtle shading creates a sense of depth and atmosphere, characteristic of della Bella's etching style. The work is part of a series of prints depicting landscapes and ruins of Rome, demonstrating a growing interest in depicting the natural world in a realistic and evocative manner. This print, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a valuable document of 17th-century Roman landscape and della Bella's skill as a master of etching.