At the Head of a Swiss Army, Francesco I d'Este, with Uncrushed Spirit, Confronts the Enemy under Bozzolo, who has Many Advantages, and Demands their Retreat, from L'Idea di un Principe ed Eroe Cristiano in Francesco I d'Este, di Modena e Reggio Duca VIII [...] 1659

Bartolomeo Fenice created this engraving to illustrate a specific moment: Francesco I d'Este confronting the enemy under Bozzolo. Notice how the composition is structured, with the battle scenes spread across the left and center, while a cluster of trees and figures on horseback occupy the right. This arrangement creates a visual dialogue between chaos and order. The receding perspective pulls the viewer into the scene, where puffs of smoke and marching soldiers denote the conflict’s intensity. However, this sense of depth is countered by the detailed, almost map-like rendering of the scene, flattening the space and turning the event into a kind of spectacle. The use of line is particularly striking, from the delicate etching of the foliage to the more assertive strokes that define the figures. This contrast underscores a tension between the natural world and the human drama unfolding within it. It's not just a depiction of war but a symbolic representation of power and resistance.