Plate 2: three fragments of friezes; on top, a grotesque head of a man, a skull of a ram at bottom left and a chimera at bottom right, from 'Friezes, foliage, and grotesques' (Frises, feuillages et grotesques)

Art Historical Context

Stefano della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher of the Baroque era (1610–1664), created this intricate *Plate 2: three fragments of frie* around 1638–43 as part of his series *Friezes,, and grotesques*Frises, feuill et grotesques*). Working primarily in Florence for the Medici court and later in Paris, della Bella drew inspiration from ancient Roman decorations unearthed during the Renaissance, blending them with the playful extravagance of 17th-century ornamentation. This small etching (2 7/16 × 4 7/8 in.) exemplifies his technical prowess in the medium, using fine, fluid lines to evoke archi...

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...