A galley embarking at center, seen from behind, the stern of another galley to right under a fire, eight men in a rowboat to left, from 'Varie figure'
Medium
Etching; first state of four
Dimensions
Sheet: 4 3/16 x 6 5/8 in. (10.7 x 16.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.426.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
In this dynamic etching from Stefano della Bella *Varie figure* series, circa 1645, a central galley embarks viewed from behind, its oars poised in motion, while the stern of another vessel burns fiercely to the right. To the left, eight men row urgently in a small boat, capturing a tense naval drama amid smoke and chaos. Della Bella, a masterful Italian printmaker active in Paris, excelled at rendering such vivid scenes of military life, blending intricate detail with dramatic energy. Printed as the first state of, this rare early impression (4 3/16 x 6 5/8 in.) showcases the etching medium'...
About the Artist
Stefano della Bella|François Langlois · 1610–1664
Stefano della Bella (1610-1664) was one of the most prolific and versatile printmakers of the Italian Baroque period, leaving behind 1,052 prints and several thousand drawings that captured the vivid essence of 17th-century European life. Born in Florence on May 18, 1610, to a family of artists, he trained initially as a goldsmith before studying painting under Cesare Dandini and etching under Rem...