Two men sitting to right, one man is smoking, five men standing in center, the bow of a ship on shore to right, two other ships to left in the background, from 'Set of eight nautical landscapes' (Suite de huit Marines)

Art Historical Context

Stefano della Bella’s 9 etching “Two men sitting to right, one man is smoking, five men standing in center, the bow of a ship on shore to right, two other ships to left in the background” belongs to his “Suite de huit Marines,” a series of eight nautical landscapes that capture the lively activity along 17th-century European shores. Created in the Baroque era, the print reflects the growing fascination with maritime trade and exploration, presenting a casual yet vivid scene of sailors and onlookers gathered near beached vessels. As an etching, the work demonstrates della Bella’s mastery of fine line work and tonal contrast, techniques that allowed intricate details—such as the curling smoke from a pipe or the rigging of distant ships—to be reproduced affordably for collectors. The modest sheet size (roughly 4½ by 7¾ inches) made these prints ideal for personal albums or travel souvenirs, spreading images of the sea’s daily rhythms far beyond port cities. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece offers modern viewers a window into the period’s blend of labor, leisure, and commerce at the water’s edge, inviting quiet appreciation of both the artist’s skill and the enduring human connection to the sea.

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...