Cathedral, Milan

The Duomo of Milan is one of the most famous Gothic buildings in Italy. Much of its exterior, however, was not realized until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The facade, for example, was only about seventy years old when Bacher created this etching. The Cleveland-born artist took up residency in Italy twice, both times choosing Venice as his second home. There, he met James McNeill Whistler, and the two artists quickly bonded over their shared passion for the etching technique. While Bacher’s Italian etchings focus largely on Venetian subjects, a visit to Milan inspired this ambitious cathedral view. Proof impressions of the print garnered admiration for its complexity and workmanship, but Bacher felt he had not done his subject justice and ultimately abandoned the plate.