A procession of horse-drawn cannon carriages to left, horsemen in combat and a dead horse to right, battle on a bridge in center background, from "Peace and War" (Divers desseins tant pour la paix que pour la guerre)

Art Historical Context

This etching by Stefano della Bella, published around 1641 by Israël Henriet, forms part of the series “Peace and War.” The compact print captures the grim machinery of seventeenth-century conflict: a line of horse-drawn cannon carriages advances on the left, while mounted soldiers clash on the right beside a fallen horse. In the distance, figures struggle on a bridge, suggesting a larger engagement unfolding beyond the immediate view. Della Bella, an Italian printmaker celebrated for his lively battle scenes, used the etching technique to render fine details of armor, harness, and smoke with remarkable clarity. Produced during the era of the Thirty Years’ War, the image reflects the period’s fascination with both the spectacle and the human cost of warfare. As the second state of two, it shows the artist’s careful refinement of line and composition before the plate was issued. Measuring just four by ten inches, the print was designed for wide circulation, allowing viewers to study the contrasts between martial pomp and sudden violence from the comfort of a collector’s cabinet. Today it offers a vivid window into how Baroque artists translated the chaos of battle into elegant, reproducible art.

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|Israël Henriet · 1610–1664

Stefano della Bella (1610-1664) was one of the most prolific and versatile printmakers of the Italian Baroque period, leaving behind 1,052 prints and several thousand drawings that captured the vivid essence of 17th-century European life. Born in Florence on May 18, 1610, to a family of artists, he trained initially as a goldsmith before studying painting under Cesare Dandini and etching under Rem...