Who painted Clovis and Clotilda?

Clovis and Clotilda was painted by Stefano Della Bella in 1657.

Where can I see Clovis and Clotilda?

Clovis and Clotilda is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Clovis and Clotilda?

Clovis and Clotilda is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Clovis and Clotilda

Stefano Della Bella , 1657

Clovis and Clotilda is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1657 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1657, *Clovis and Clotilda* is a print by Stefano della Bella, a Florentine artist noted for his prolific output in the mid‑seventeenth century. Executed with both etching and engraving on laid paper, the work presents a dramatic, storm‑filled landscape populated by a mounted rider and a procession, framed by ornamental scrollwork and cherubic figures.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a tense procession led by a horseman, presumably the legendary Clovis, accompanied by a female figure identified as Clotilda. The surrounding cherubs, foliage, and turbulent sky suggest a narrative moment imbued with both heroic urgency and mythic overtones, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of leadership, destiny, and the forces of nature.

Technique & Style

Della Bella combines the incising precision of engraving with the freer, tonal qualities of etching, allowing for sharply defined outlines alongside subtle gradations of shadow. The laid‑paper surface enhances the texture of the line work, while the intricate ornamental border demonstrates his facility with decorative motifs and his ability to integrate narrative and embellishment.

History & Provenance

The print belongs to the period when della Bella was producing the bulk of his more than one thousand known works, a time marked by his exploration of military, genre, and literary subjects. Although specific ownership records for this particular impression are scarce, it reflects the artist’s commercial practice of issuing multiple copies for a broad Italian market.

Context

*Clovis and Clotilda* emerges from a vibrant Italian print culture that circulated visual stories beyond the confines of painted panels. In the 1650s, prints served both as decorative objects and as means of disseminating historical and mythological narratives, situating della Bella’s work within the larger network of 17th‑century visual communication.

Artist & collection

Artist

Stefano Della Bella

Stefano della Bella (18 May 1610 – 12 July 1664) was an Italian draughtsman and printmaker known for etchings of a great variety of subjects, including military and court scenes, landscapes, and lively genre scenes.