Persée et Andromede

Art Historical Context

This etching, created in 1644 by the Italian artist Stefano della Bella, captures the dramatic rescue of Andromeda by the hero Perseus from a fearsome sea monster. A master of the Baroque period, della Bella was renowned for his lively and intricate printmaking, often blending mythological themes with dynamic compositions. The work was produced in collaboration with French writer Jean Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin and publisher Henri Le Gras, reflecting the cultural exchanges between Italy and the French court under the young Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin. Etching, the medium employed here in its first state, allowed artists to achieve fine lines and tonal effects through acid biting on a metal plate, making it ideal for reproducing detailed scenes for wider audiences. This print likely served as an illustration for a theatrical or literary work, bringing classical mythology to life for seventeenth-century viewers. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, gifted in 1918, highlights the enduring appeal of these ancient tales rendered with Baroque energy and precision.

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|Jean Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin|Henri Le Gras|Louis XIV, King of France|Cardinal Jules Mazarin · 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...