Frontispiece with Hunters, Dogs and Horses, from 'Hunting Scenes VI' 1609

This is Antonio Tempesta's "Frontispiece with Hunters, Dogs and Horses, from 'Hunting Scenes VI'," an engraving dating from 1609. Tempesta, working in Italy, presents us with a window into the aristocratic pursuits of the era, yet this work is more than a simple depiction of hunting. Consider the elaborate framing, adorned with the spoils of the hunt: the hunted animals themselves. How do these elements position the viewer in relation to power, class, and the natural world? The hunters at the base, seemingly ordinary, are ennobled through their association with the hunt, a privilege of the upper class. The dogs, symbols of loyalty, are partners in this endeavor. “The present labor of my very weak intellect, which for other reasons would not dare to appear to the World.” These are the words of Tempesta, his self-effacing inscription reveals the complex relationship between artist and patron. The emotional tenor of Tempesta’s words speak to the intricate dance of power and patronage in the art world of the 17th century.