Apollo, from 'Game of Mythology' (Jeu de la Mythologie)

Art Historical Context

This delicate etching, *Apollo, from 'Game of Mythology'Jeu de la Myth)*, captures the god music and poetry in a compact 1 7/8 × 2 1/16 in. sheet, created by Italian master printmaker Stefano della Bella in1644. As the first state of five, it represents an early, pristine impression before later refinements, showcasing della Bella's virtuosic line work during his time in Paris.ed amid the opulent French court under Cardinal Jules Mazarin and the young Louis XIV, with poetic contributions from Jean Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin and engraving by Henri Le Gras, this print formed part of a luxurious card game set glorifying classical mythology. Della Bella's etching technique—using acid to bite intricate lines into copper plates—allowed for remarkable detail in such a tiny format, evoking Apollo's grace with his harp, a symbol of harmony and the arts. Produced during France's Baroque era, the *Jeu de la Mythologie* blended entertainment with erudition, educating nobility on ancient gods while reflecting Louis XIV's emerging cult of absolutism through divine imagery. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Robert Hartshorne, 1918), this rare first-state gem highlights 17th-century printmaking's role in disseminating culture, turning a playful game into enduring artistic treasure.

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|Jean Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin|Henri Le Gras|Louis XIV, King of France|Cardinal Jules Mazarin · 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...