Title Page for Stephanus Simonini, Silvae Urbaninae

Cornelis Galle I after Sir Peter Paul Rubens

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing showing a classical allegorical scene with two figures, a coat of arms, and an inscription. The central image features an ornate coat of arms with three bees on a shield, topped with a papal tiara and keys, surrounded by decorative foliage. Below the coat of arms, there is an inscription on a stone mentioning Stephan Simonini and urban affairs (Silvae Urbanianae seu Gesta Urbani VIII). Flanking the inscription are two figures in classical attire: one standing and reaching towards the inscription, the other sitting on a volute with an urn. The background includes trees and a distant landscape. The drawing showcases intricate cross-hatching and light and shadow effects, characteristic of engravings from that era.