Francesco I d'Este Suffers the Mortal Blow of a Bullet While Under Pavia and Retreats into his Own Quarters, Having Been Left Without Wounds to His Head and His Heart, which Gave Him a Fever, from L'Idea di un Principe ed Eroe Cristiano in Francesco I d'Este, di Modena e Reggio Duca VIII [...] 1659

This print by Bartolomeo Fenice shows Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena, suffering a mortal wound, though not where you might expect. It's made using etching, a printmaking process where acid is used to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The etched lines create a detailed, almost clinical depiction of the battle scene. The focus isn't just on the Duke, but on the entire military operation, with marching soldiers, cannons, and distant explosions filling the landscape. Look closely, and you can see the labor involved in warfare: soldiers marching, cannons being hauled, tents being erected. The title tells us that the Duke’s wound is peculiar, not to the head or heart, but a fever brought on by the battle. Fenice is not just showing a battle, but also suggesting something about the nature of leadership and the toll it takes, both physically and emotionally. This challenges our traditional ideas of heroism, reminding us of the human cost behind grand narratives of power.