Eleonor, Isabeau de Bauieres, Elisabeth, and Julie, from 'The game of queens' (Le jeu des Reines renommées)

Art Historical Context

In the intricate etching *Eleonor, Isabeau de Bauieres, Elisabeth and Julie, from 'The game of queens' (Le jeu des Reinesommées)*, Stefano della Bella captures four renowned queens in a playful yet elegant composition from 1644. Created during the Baroque era, this print is part of a larger series designed for a French parlor game featuring illustrious female rulers, blending entertainment with historical homage. Della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher who worked in Florence and Paris, drew inspiration from earlier printmakers like Jacques Callot, infusing his works with lively detail and dynamic energy. The etching's fine lines and cross-hatching showcase the technique's precision, allowing for subtle textures in the queens' elaborate gowns and poised expressions on a modest 3 9/16 x 8 13/16 in. sheet. These women—likely historical figures like Isabeau de Bavière, the influential queen consort of France—represent power and grace, reflecting 17th-century fascination with royal women amid Europe's courts and cabals. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this bequest from Phyllis Massar highlights della Bella's role in popularizing etched portrait series. It invites visitors to ponder how games immortalized queens, turning history into a delightful pastime.

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella · 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...