Plate XIX (19): Diana, from "Museum Florentinum" (Statuae antiquae dorum et virorum illustrium) 1734

Genaro Gutiérrez created this print of Diana, from "Museum Florentinum", using etching. Notice how the monochrome tones emphasize the sculptural form, inviting contemplation of texture and light. The composition is dominated by the figure of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, with her dog positioned beside her. The artist employs line and shadow to give form to the marble, capturing the smooth, cool surfaces of the statue. Diana’s drapery, with its flowing lines, contrasts with the rigid, controlled lines defining the statue’s base, establishing a visual dialogue between movement and stasis. The arrangement of elements—Diana’s gaze, the dog’s attentive posture—creates a narrative pull, engaging us in a silent dialogue. Consider how the texture of the etching, the play of light and shadow, and the linear precision serve not merely as descriptive tools but as conveyors of cultural values. This is a visual document, a representation of classical ideals, inviting us to interpret and reinterpret its meaning.