Second Scene, in Diana's forest, from 'The marriage of the gods' (Le nozze degli Dei)

Art Historical Context

Step into the enchanting world of 17th-century mythology with Stefano della Bella's *Second Scene, in Diana forest, from 'The marriage of the gods' ( nozze degli Dei)* an exquisite etching created in 1637. Della Bella, a masterful Florentine printmaker active during the Baroque era, drew inspiration from classical tales, likely Ovid'sMetamorphoses*, to festive divine unions. This scene unfolds in the lush, sacred forest of Diana, the goddess of the hunt, a moment of celestial revelry amid ornate architecture and natural splendor—evident in its classification as ornament and architecture within landscape prints. Etching allowed Della Bella to showcase his virtuosic line work, incising intricate details into a copper plate with acid for reproduction. Measuring 7 7/8 x 11 5/16 inches, this intimate sheet brims with delicate foliage, fantastical structures, and figures in dynamic poses, blending landscape grandeur with decorative elegance. As part of a rare series, it reflects the era's fascination with antiquity revived through printmaking, making grand myths accessible to collectors across Europe. Today, this gem from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, acquired through the 2011 bequest of Phyllis Massar, invites us to ponder Baroque opulence: how Della Bella transformed metal and ink into a woodland paradise teeming with divine joy.

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...