Artwork
Marine
Marine is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1642 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Stefano Della Bella’s 1642 etching shows a stormy sea with waves crashing against rocks.
Stefano Della Bella’s 1642 etching shows a stormy sea with waves crashing against rocks. Tiny ships struggle in the waves, their sails tight in the wind. The artist added fine lines to show water spray and foam.
Della Bella made this in Florence, Italy. He worked fast—etchings let him draw on a metal plate with acid. The plate holds ink, then the image prints on paper.
Look up Della Bella, Stefano.
Overview
Marine is a 1642 etching by Italian artist Stefano della Bella, characterized by its depiction of a turbulent sea scene.
Subject & Meaning
The print falls within the marine genre, showing a stormy sea with waves crashing against rocks and small ships struggling in the turbulent water, conveying the power of nature.
Technique & Style
Created using the etching technique, della Bella rapidly drew on a metal plate with acid, which was then inked and printed on paper. Fine lines capture water spray and foam, demonstrating the artist's expressive use of the medium.
History & Provenance
Produced in Florence, Italy, Marine is one of over a thousand prints made by della Bella during his prolific career as a draughtsman and printmaker.
Context
As part of della Bella's diverse output, which included landscapes and genre scenes, Marine reflects his interest in varied subjects, typical of 17th-century Italian artistic exploration.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of Marine are not highlighted, it contributes to della Bella's recognized body of work as a prolific etcher of his time.
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.
![The Flight into Egypt [verso], by Stefano Della Bella](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/stefano-della-bella--the-flight-into-egypt-verso--3a100db72e6d25e3-w320.webp)
