Print from Drawing Book c. 1610 - 1620

Luca Ciamberlano made this print on paper in the early 17th century. Here we see a drawing of a soldier. But what does it tell us about the place and time in which it was made? Italy in the 17th century was a battleground for competing empires. Warfare was a constant fact of life. As such, images of military prowess were extremely popular. However, consider the form of this drawing. The soldier seems relaxed, perhaps even melancholic. He isn't charging into battle but is captured in a moment of quiet contemplation. This introspective mood chimes with the spiritual character of the Baroque era and it invites us to consider the psychological experience of warfare. To understand it better, we might research the prints and drawings that were circulating in Rome at this time. We might also examine the changing status of the military in Baroque society. Ultimately, this image reminds us that all art is shaped by its social and historical context.