Frontispiece, 'Queenly St. Ursula' (La Regina Sant'Orsola), from a series of prints for the performance of the St. Ursula tragedy, presented in Florence at the beginning of the 17th century 1640 - 1656

Alfonso Parigi created this etching, 'Queenly St. Ursula', in the early 17th century as part of a series of prints for a theatrical performance. Note how the composition divides the scene into distinct registers: inscription, theatrical drape, panoramic cityscape, and the foreground action, each framed to enhance the viewer's experience. Parigi's formal decisions structure the narrative; the drape with its meticulous tassels acts as a proscenium, drawing attention to the drama below, while the city serves as a backdrop, fixing the play in a specific locale. This layering invites us to consider how the play represents historical and cultural events. Look at the characters carefully, and how they are arranged in relation to each other and the landscape. Parigi uses line and space to evoke depth and dynamism. This print is not just a record, it's an analysis of representation itself, an attempt to understand how theatre and image-making shape our perceptions of reality.