The Castel Sant'Angelo and the Pont Sant'Angelo in Rome, various boats unloading to right, two pilgrims with children seated to left, from 'Varie figure'
Medium
Etching; first state of four
Dimensions
Sheet: 4 1/8 x 6 1/8 in. (10.5 x 15.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.426.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
In this intricate etching from Stefano della Bella's series *Varie figure (ca. 1645), the majestic Castel Sant'Angelo and the Sant'Angelo bridge dominate's Tiber River scene. To the right, boats bustle with unloading cargo, evoking the lively commerce of 17th-century Italy, two pilgrims with children rest thoughtfully to the left, adding a human touch to the architectural grandeur. Published with François Langlois, this first-state impression—before later refinements—captures della Bella's skill in rendering bustling urban life during his prolific Roman period. Della Bella, a leading Baroque ...
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...