Rock of the Philosphers, or Mount Parnassus, many ancient philosophers gathered in groups at the base of the mountain in the foreground, Diogenes in his barrel to right and Archimedes in center studying an armillary sphere in the middleground, an angel in the sky to left, the mountain in the background, a large cloud at the top of the mountain with the assembly of the gods 1656 - 1666

Stefano della Bella created "Rock of the Philosophers, or Mount Parnassus" in the 17th century using etching. The composition is dominated by a large, centrally positioned mountain, densely populated with figures. At its base are gathered ancient philosophers, while the summit hosts the assembly of the gods, creating a visual hierarchy. Bella's technique employs delicate, closely-knit lines to define forms and textures, resulting in a detailed yet somewhat ethereal quality. Notice how the artist contrasts the earthly realm of philosophical inquiry with the divine sphere above through the arrangement of figures and the ethereal rendering of clouds. The mountain acts as a visual mediator, a kind of Jacob's Ladder, connecting these disparate realms. The print invites us to consider the relationship between reason and divinity, knowledge and power. The rock's form and its structuring of space serve as a stage for contemplating the interplay between earthly wisdom and divine authority. It raises questions about the nature of truth and how we come to know it.