The Vase of the Medici

1656

Stefano Della Bella

Associated Names
Stefano Della Bella

Artist, Florentine, 1610 - 1664

The image shows a scene with a large marble vase decorated with carvings of human figures in classical poses. A person is seen kneeling on the ground, studying or sketching the vase. In the background, there is a tall obelisk and cypress trees. The scene is detailed with etching lines depicting textures of stone, foliage, and fabric. The color palette is monochromatic, highlighting the details and shading. The sky is softly rendered with clouds in the distance.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching

  • Credit Line

    Andrew W. Mellon Fund

  • Accession Number

    1977.12.2

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    De Vesme/Massar 1971, no. 832, State ii/ii

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1984

  • Graphic Survey Show, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., February 1984.

1990

  • Gardens on Paper: Prints and Drawings, 1200-1900, NGA, 1990, no. 44, repro.

1994

  • Fanciful Flourishes: Ornament in European Graphic Art and Related Objects, 1300-1800, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994.

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, no. 832, ii/ii.

1971

  • De Vesme, Alexandre, Phyllis Dearborn Massar.Stefano Della Bella. New York, 1971: no. 832, ii/ii.

1990

  • Clayton, Virginia Tuttle. Gardens on Paper: Prints and Drawings, 1200-1900. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1990: 44.

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: no. III. 121.

Wikidata ID

Q65577868

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