Stefano della Bella

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stefano della Bella (18 May 1610 - 12 July 1664) was an Italian printmaker known for etchings of many subjects, including military ones.

He was born at Florence, and apprenticed initially to a goldsmith, but became an engraver. He studied etching under Remigio Cantagallina, who had also been the instructor of Jacques Callot, who had lived in Florence 1612-1621, and whose prints imparted a strong influence to printmakers. The patronage of Lorenzo de Medici enabled della Bella to study for three years in Rome. In 1642 he went to Paris, where Cardinal Richelieu engaged him to go to Arras and make drawings of the siege and taking of that town by the royal army. After residing a considerable time at Paris he returned to Florence, where he obtained a pension from the grand duke, whose son, Cosimo de Medici, he instructed in drawing. His productions were very numerous, amounting to over 1000 separate pieces.

• See entry for Hansken for his etching of the famous elephant after death.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.