Mythological Playing Cards

1644

Stefano Della Bella

Associated Names
Stefano Della Bella

Artist, Florentine, 1610 - 1664

This print shows twelve small scenes arranged in three rows of four. The small scenes are rectangular, and there are stretches of white paper between the rows. Each small, distinct scene illustrates dynamic interactions with people engaged in various activities. Each panel is detailed, focusing on the gestures and expressions of the characters. Some of the scenes include: a battle with people being shot by arrows; a person riding a chariot; three women standing together holding hands; a woman running, her fingers beginning to turn into branches; a man and horses falling from the sky; a person playing the violin outside of a city; people dancing under trees; a person riding a large fish over the water, playing an instrument. The illustrations are in thin, dark lines against a background of off-white paper.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 27.5 × 23.5 cm (10 13/16 × 9 1/4 in.)
    sheet: 28.6 × 24.3 cm (11 1/4 × 9 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1968.24.108

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    De Vesme/Massar 1971, no. 493, State , 499, 501, 512-13, 519, 525-26, *

  • 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, 493, 499, 501, 512-13, 519, 525-26, *.

1971

  • De Vesme, Alexandre, Phyllis Dearborn Massar.Stefano Della Bella. New York, 1971: nos. 493, 499, 501, 512-13, 519, 525-26, *.

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: nos. II. 165-70, 172-73.

Watermarks

fragment

Wikidata ID

Q65512130

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