Pax Artium Nutrix - Francesco Bartolozzi

An allegorical etching from 1787 by Francesco Bartolozzi, based on a design by Benjamin West, depicting Peace as the guardian of the arts.

This print, titled Pax Artium Nutrix (Peace, the Nurse of the Arts), is an allegorical work created by the Italian engraver Francesco Bartolozzi in 1787. The composition is based on a design by the American-born British painter Benjamin West, who served as the second president of the Royal Academy of Arts. The work depicts a central female figure, representing Peace, seated amidst a group of putti who are engaged in various artistic and scholarly pursuits. One putto holds a tablet inscribed with the word 'Italy', while another writes upon a scroll. To the left, a lion rests near the shore, where ships are visible in the distance, suggesting the prosperity and security that peace provides for maritime trade and cultural exchange. A bust, crowned with laurel, appears in the upper right, further reinforcing the classical themes of the composition.

Bartolozzi was a master of the stipple engraving technique, though this work demonstrates his command of traditional line engraving and etching. The fine, controlled lines define the soft drapery of the central figure and the atmospheric clouds that surround the figures. The print reflects the aesthetic values of the late eighteenth century, where classical iconography was frequently employed to convey moral and political messages. The collaboration between West and Bartolozzi was common during this period, as the Royal Academy sought to promote high-quality printmaking as a means of disseminating fine art to a wider audience. This piece offers a clear example of the Neoclassical interest in allegory, order, and the idealised representation of human virtues. It remains a representative specimen of the print culture that flourished in London during the late Georgian era, demonstrating the technical precision required for such complex, multi-figure compositions.