Cows crossing a valley at left, a horseman and other cows in the background, plate 6 from "Roman landscapes and ruins" (Paysages et ruines de Rome)

Art Historical Context

Step into the sun-dappled Roman countryside with *Cows crossing a valley at, a horseman and cows in the background*, 6 from Stefano della Bella's enchanting series *Roman Landscapes and Ruins* (*Paysages et ru de Rome*), circa 1646. Italian printmaker Stefano della Bella, who trained under Jacques Callot and later worked in Paris, captured the timeless beauty of the Eternal City's environs during his travels. Published by François Langlois this etching reflects the 17th-century fascination with Italy's pastoral idylls, blending everyday rural life with the aura of ancient grandeur. Crafted as a fourth state of nine—a progressive proof showing the etching's evolution—this intimate print (5 3/8 × 5 11/16 in.) showcases della Bella's mastery of etching technique. Fine, fluid lines evoke the gentle movement of grazing cows fording a valley, a distant horseman herding more cattle amid trees, creating depth and atmosphere on a trimmed sheet. Etching's precision allowed for intricate textures, from leafy foliage to animal forms, making these affordable prints popular collectibles. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1917), this work highlights the Baroque era's love for landscape as a stage for harmonious nature. It invites visitors to ponder Rome's enduring allure, where humble herds echo the region's mythic past.

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|François Langlois · 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...