La Divina Commedia

Dante Alighieri (author), with etchings by Giuliano Giampiccoli, Giuseppe Magnini, and Various Artists, after Francesco Fontebasso, Gaspero Ticiani, and Various Artists

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of an ornate decorative page dedicated to Elisabetta Petrowna, the Empress of all Russias. The page features a sonnet beneath the title, embellished with detailed illustrations. Cherubs hold a draped fabric at the top center, with the left and right borders adorned with scrolls and floral motifs. At the bottom left, there is a depiction of an angelic figure seated with a trumpet, looking upward. Another cherub rests on ornate scrollwork at the bottom right, near an Italian inscription. The artistry of the page displays a blend of baroque ornamental elements, emphasizing luxury and grandeur in its classical design.