Naval combat, a ship at center, seen from behind, firing at four enemy ships, another ship entering from the right, a rowboat with nine people to left, from 'Peace and War' (Divers desseins tant pour la paix que pour la guerre)
ca. 1638–43
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 4 5/16 x 9 13/16 in. (10.9 x 25 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.433.5
Tags
About this artwork
This dynamic naval combat scene exemplifies Stefano della Bella's remarkable ability to capture the chaos and drama of maritime warfare. Created between 1638 and 1643 as part of his ambitious series 'Peace and War' (Divers desseins tant pour la paix que pour la guerre), published by Israël Henriet, the etching depicts a ship at center, viewed from behind as it fires upon four enemy vessels, while another ship enters from the right and a rowboat with nine occupants struggles in the turbulent wate...
About the Artist
Stefano della Bella|Israël Henriet · 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...