Plate 12: a cartouche flanked by two winged infant satyrs riding on the heads of two rams, from 'Nouvelles inventions de Cartouches'

Art Historical Context

In the whimsical world of 17th Baroque ornamentation, Stefano della Bella *Plate 12: a cartouche flanked by two winged satyrs riding on the of two rams* captures the playful exuberance of mythological fancy. Created around 1647 as part of the series *Nouvelles inventions de Cart* ("New Inventions of Cart"), this etching showcases a lavishly framed cartouche—an ornate oval or scroll-shaped enclosure used for inscriptions in architecture, books, and decorative arts. Flanking it are mischievous infant satyrs, half-human, half-goat creatures from classical mythology, depicted with delicate wings as they cavort atop rams' heads, blending the grotesque with the graceful. Della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher who worked in Paris for the French court, excelled in etching's fine, fluid lines, allowing intricate details like the satyrs' curly hair and the rams' textured wool to emerge with remarkable precision. This technique made his prints highly influential for designers, goldsmiths, and architects during the Baroque era, when elaborate motifs symbolized abundance and fantasy amid Europe's opulent courts. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this petite sheet (just 5 x 3 11/16 inches) invites visitors to appreciate how such inventive designs fueled the decorative arts, turning everyday frames into portals of imagination. A delightful glimpse into Della Bella's inventive spirit!

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...