UK
Back

Various Landscapes. Title Sheet

Stefano della Bella

  • Various Landscapes. Title Sheet 2
Basic information
ID
Г-IV-1014
Author
Stefano della Bella
Name
Various Landscapes. Title Sheet
Date of creation
c.1643
Country
Italy
Technique
etching
Material
paper
Dimensions (height x width, cm)
11.8 x 25.8
Additionally
Type
graphic art
Genre
cityscape
Plot
City landscape
Provenance
Lviv Historical Museum
Information about author
Author
Stefano della Bella
Artist's lifetime
1610–1644
Country
Italy
Biography
Stefano della Bella was one of the most prolific Italian engravers and draftsmen of the 17th century. The artist created thousands of unique graphic works that accurately depicted the events of his time, such as theatrical performances of the Florentine nobility, Thirty Years' War conflicts, and ordinary life on the streets of Rome and Paris. The engraver was born in Florence in 1610. Due to the premature death of his father, the young man was compelled to study as a jeweller. Still, he quickly grew interested in drawing, imitating the technique of the prominent French graphic artist Jacques Callot. At this time, he gained the patronage of the Medici family, who continued to favour the artist throughout his life. Supported by the Medici, della Bella went to Rome in 1633, where he received important commissions almost immediately. Numerous sketches of park ensembles, villas, palaces and ancient ruins were also created there, which he later used for his engravings. At the request of the Medici family, he was obliged to return to Florence in 1637. In Rome, della Bella met the French graphic artists Henriet Israel and Francois L'Anglois, thanks to whom he moved to Paris in 1639. The engraver could quickly establish cooperation with the three most important Parisian publishers: Pierre Mariette, Henriet Israel, and Francois L'Anglois. In Paris, the artist became well-known by creating various etchings, which collectors much sought after. He returned to Florence in 1650, where he resided until he died in 1664. During this period, Stefano della Bella diversified his favourite subjects, producing an excellent series of hunting scenes, impressive landscapes with Roman ruins, and detailed depictions of equestrians.
Object description
Stefano della Bella executed a large number of rural landscapes series. They can be attributed to the fiction genre since the artist combined elements of various sketches. During his numerous trips, the master made drawings for his works. Stefano della Bella tried to reproduce his drawings' pen strokes or chalk texture in his etchings. These works comprise a series of 12 sheet engravings entitled "Diverses Paisages" ("Various Landscapes"), which were printed in Henriet Israel's publishing house around 1643. The engravings were dedicated to Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé. Because of his remarkable victory in the Battle of Rocroi, which he won in 1643, the figure of Louis II de Bourbon was extremely popular at that time. The engraving is the title sheet of the series. It depicts a monument with a statue of a military commander in Roman armour. It is most likely a figure of Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé. Nearby are the military trophies won in victory and Prince de Conde's coat of arms: three royal lilies on a shield. The lower tier of the monument is decorated with naked male and female figures lying. There are two inscriptions on the pedestal: "Diverses Paisages Mis en lumiere Par Israel Dedie A" above and "Mon-Seigneur et très-illustre Prince Louis de Bourbon Duc D'Anguien" below. On the right, an artist sits under a tree, making sketches. Behind the monument, a couple is walking along the park alley, followed by a small dog. A group of two men and a woman is resting beneath the canopy of trees. The engraving in the Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery's collection is mistakenly attributed to Silvestre Israel's authorship.
Inscriptions
Зліва печатка з написом: ZBIORY RYCIN KONOPKOW
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery

Other