Plate 9: the Arch of Constantine to left, seen from the side, part of the Colosseum to right, various horses and figures in foreground and background, a round composition, from 'Roman landscapes and ruins' (Paysages et ruines de Rome)
ca. 1643–48
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 5 1/8 x 5 3/16 in. (13 x 13.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.551.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the grandeur of ancient Rome through Stefano della Bella's *Plate 9* from the series *Roman Landscapes and Ruins*Paysages et ru de Rome), created around 1643–48. This enchanting etching captures side view of the majestic Arch of Constantine on the, with a portion of the Colosseum to the right. The round composition draws the eye into a bustling scene of ruins alive with horses, figures, and distant, blending decay with everyday vitality in 17th-century Rome. Della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher renowned for his intricate line work and dynamic compositions, collaborated with publi...
About the Artist
Stefano della Bella|François Langlois · 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...