The altar of the holy sacrament; at left, the sacrament beneath a canopy, carried in procession and followed by the Louis XIV and Anne of Austria heading towards a large arched structure, spectators at left and right kneel in front of tapestries after Raphael

Art Historical Context

In the etching *The Altar of the Holy Sacrament* (ca. 1648), Stefano della Bella captures a grand religious procession unfolding with regal splendor. At left, the sacrament is borne beneath an ornate canopy, followed closely by the young Louis XIV and his mother, Anne of Austria, as they process toward a monumental arched structure. Kneeling spectators line the scene on both sides, their reverence amplified by lavish tapestries after Raphael adorning the backdrop. This third state of eight from della Bella's plate showcases the artist's evolving refinements, with intricate lines building depth and drama. Della Bella, a masterful Florentine etcher active in Paris during the mid-17th century, excelled in depicting crowded, ceremonial events that blended Baroque exuberance with precise observation. Created amid Louis XIV's early reign—under Anne's regency during turbulent times like the Fronde—this print immortalizes a Corpus Christi procession, highlighting the intertwining of faith, monarchy, and public piety in absolutist France. The etching medium, prized for its fluid lines and tonal range, allowed della Bella to render the throng's textures, architectural grandeur, and flickering light with remarkable fidelity. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work exemplifies how prints democratized elite spectacles, inviting viewers to witness royal devotion. A testament to della Bella's courtly finesse, it evokes the era's opulent rituals and enduring cultural reverence for the Eucharist.

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...