View of the coast of Italy (Veue des Costes d'Italie), the bow of a ship resting to left, a group of men playing cards in center, a tower in ruins to right in the background, from 'Views of seaports' (Vues de ports de mar)

Art Historical Context

Stefano della Bella, a 17th-century Italiancher renowned for his intricate landscapes and genre scenes, created *View of the Coast of* in 1647 as part of the series *Views of Seaports* (*Vues de ports mer*), published by Israël Henriet. This lively etching captures a bustling Mediterranean harbor: the bow of a ship protrudes from the left, a group men animatedly play cards in the center foreground, and to the right, a picturesque tower in ruins rises against the coastal backdrop. Della Bella's keen eye for everyday life infuses the scene with a sense of immediacy, blending nautical adventure w...

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...