Departure of a Ship
probably c. 1654/1655
Medium
etching on laid paper
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1972.66.4
Art Historical Context
Stefano della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher of the Baroque era, captures the drama of maritime life in *Departure of a Ship*c. 1654/1655). Working primarily in Florence and Paris during the 17th century, della Bella was renowned for his intricate prints depicting festivals, battles, and everyday scenes with remarkable detail and energy. This etching on laid paper, now housed in the National Gallery of Art thanks to the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, exemplifies his skill in rendering bustling harbors and human activity. Etching allowed della Bella to achieve fine lines and textures impossible i...
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...