Design for a Frieze with Acanthus Scrolls and a Leopard in the Center, Plate 10 from: 'Decorative friezes and foliage' (Ornamenti di fregi e fogliami)

Art Historical Context

In the opulent world of 17th-century Baroque decoration, Stefano della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher, crafted this intricate *Design for a Frieze Acanthus Scrolls and a in the Center*. Created around 1645–50 as Plate 10 from the series *Decorativeiezes and Foliage* (*Ornamenti di fregi e fogliami*), published by Parisian printmaker Nicolas Langlois it exemplifies the era's fascination with elaborate ornamental designs for architecture and interiors. Della Bella's etching technique—using acid to incise fine lines into a metal plate—brings exquisite detail to the swirling acanthus scrolls, a classical motif rooted in ancient Greek and Roman friezes symbolizing enduring growth and vitality. At the center prowls a fierce leopard, adding a dynamic, exotic flair that evokes power and wilderness amid the elegant foliage. Measuring just 3 3/16 × 9 3/4 inches, this compact print was likely intended as a model for artisans crafting grand palaces or furnishings. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this bequest from Phyllis Massar highlights the print's role in disseminating sophisticated decorative ideas across Europe, blending Renaissance classicism with Baroque exuberance for timeless appeal.

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|Nicolas 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...