Boreas and Orithyia, from 'Game of Mythology' (Jeu de la Mythologie)
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 7/8 x 2 5/16 in. (4.7 x 5.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.811.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the intricate etching *Boreas and Orithyia, from 'Game of Mythology' (Jeu de la Mythologie, Stefano della Bella captures a whirlwind moment from classical mythology. Created in 1644, this tiny print (just 1 7/8 x 2 5/16 inches) depicts the Greek god Boreas, the fierce north wind, abducting the Athenian princess Orithyia in a dramatic swirl of motion and drapery. As part of a rare series of 14 etchings designed for a mythological playing card game, it blends entertainment with erudition, inviting players to immerse themselves in ancient tales. Della Bella, a masterful Florentine printmaker ...
About the Artist
Stefano della Bella · 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...