Death on the Battlefield, from 'The five deaths' (Les cinq Morts)
ca. 1650–64
Medium
Etching; proof state retouched with graphite and pen and brown ink
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 7 1/2 × 11 3/4 in. (19.1 × 29.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund and The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, by exchange, 1959
Accession Number
68.736.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Stefano della Bella, a masterful 17th-century Italiancher renowned for his intricate Baroque compositions, created *Death on the Battlefield* as part of his poignant series *The Five Deaths* (Les cinqs), around 1650–64. Working primarily in Florence and Paris, della Bella drew inspiration from the turbulent wars of his era, capturing the drama of conflict with remarkable detail. This etching, in a rare proof state retouched by the artist with graphite and pen and brown ink, offers a glimpse into his creative process—early impressions like this allowed refinements before final publication. The...
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...