La Statue de Ferdinand I c. 17th century

Stefano della Bella created this print of "La Statue de Ferdinand I" in the 17th century. The eye is drawn to the statue of Ferdinand in the center, but it is the base of the statue that commands the viewers attention. The forms on the statue are busy, but it is the symmetry that defines the space. Below Ferdinand, we see enslaved figures straining, a stark counterpoint to the Duke's composed posture. Della Bella uses line and form to express the relationship between power and subjugation. The statue’s symmetry is offset by the asymmetry of the enslaved figures who seem to writhe in their positions, creating a visual tension that speaks to the inherent violence of the Duke's power. The etching technique, with its precise lines, paradoxically softens the scene and creates an air of detachment. This distance invites a critical perspective on the spectacle of power and suffering depicted. Della Bella presents us not just with a portrait of authority, but with a complex meditation on its cost.