Mythological Playing Cards

1644

Stefano Della Bella

Associated Names
Stefano Della Bella

Artist, Florentine, 1610 - 1664

This is a drawing of eleven distinct scenes featuring mythological or allegorical figures. The artwork is composed of a grid with spaces for various small illustrations, each depicting an individual vignette. In the top row, four scenes are visible: a figure holding a scythe, another figure with a bird, an interaction with an eagle, and a person among swirling clouds. The middle row presents figures in tranquil settings: a person with a peacock-like bird, in a chariot drawn by birds, amidst nature holding a small shield, and with a large shield. The final row includes figures: with a lyre, appearing assertive and standing tall, with a staff, and posed with light drapery exuding confidence. Each scene is rendered intricately, focusing on classical imagery and expressions, encapsulated within a structured format.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 27.7 × 23.3 cm (10 7/8 × 9 3/16 in.)
    sheet: 28.4 × 24 cm (11 3/16 × 9 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1968.24.106

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    De Vesme/Massar 1971, no. 490, State -492, 503-505, 516-518, 529-31 i/v

  • Series Title

    Jeu des Mythologie (Fables) [Vesme 489-541]

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1906

  • Vesme, Alexandre de (Baudi di Vesme, Alessandro). Le peintre-graveur italien; ouvrage faisant suite au peintre-graveur de Bartsch. Milan: Ulrico Hoepli, 1906.

1971

  • De Vesme, Alexandre, Phyllis Dearborn Massar.Stefano Della Bella. New York, 1971: nos. 490, -492, 503-505, 516-518, 529-31 i/v.

2001

  • Talbierska, Jolanta.AKWAFORTY ZE ZBIOROW GABINETU RYCIN BIBLIOTEKI UNIWERSYTECKIEJ W WARSZAWIE / Etchings from the Collection of the Print Room of the Warsaw University Library. Warsaw, 2001: undescribed.

Wikidata ID

Q65512128

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