Waterfall with Three Tiers
Medium
etching
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Sara L. Lepman
Accession Number
1981.59.18
Art Historical Context
**Waterfall with Three T** is a mesmerizing etching by Stefano della Bella the renowned 17th-century printmaker, completed in 1646. Della Bella, active during the Baroque period, mastered the etching medium—a technique where acid etches intricate lines into a metal plate allowing for delicate, fluid details impossible in other prints. This work captures the dynamic rush of a three-tiered cascade, surrounded by rugged rocks and lush foliage, evoking nature's raw power and elegance. Created during Della Bella's influential years in Paris (1639–1650), where he worked for French nobility, the pri...
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...