Artwork
Death Carrying a Child to the Right
Death Carrying a Child to the Right is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1648, *Death Carrying a Child to the Right* is an etching and engraving by the Florentine printmaker Stefano della Bella. Executed on a metal plate, the image depicts a winged, skeletal figure bearing a child, hovering above a tranquil town whose streets are interrupted by a fissure in the ground. The composition juxtaposes the inevitability of death with everyday life.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a winged personification of Death, cradles an infant while reaching toward another child on the right, suggesting the indiscriminate nature of mortality. Below, townspeople continue their activities unaware, emphasizing a contrast between the calm of daily routine and the looming presence of the afterlife.
Technique & Style
Della Bella combined etching—where acid bites lines into a copper plate—with engraving, which involves cutting sharper lines by hand. This dual approach yields a range of line qualities, from delicate, atmospheric shading to crisp, defined contours that delineate the skeletal figure and the architectural details of the town.
History & Provenance
Stefano della Bella was a prolific 17th‑century Italian artist, producing over a thousand prints and numerous drawings across a varied repertoire. This work exemplifies his reputation in printmaking during the Baroque period, though specific ownership records for the surviving impressions are not documented in the available sources.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
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