Artwork
Mythological Playing Cards
Mythological Playing Cards is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1644 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1644, *Mythological Playing Cards* is an etching on laid paper by the Florentine draughtsman Stefano della Bella. The sheet comprises twelve black‑and‑white images, each bordered as a playing card and arranged in three horizontal rows. The work exemplifies della Bella’s prolific output as a printmaker, a medium in which he produced over a thousand images.
Subject & Meaning
The twelve scenes draw on classical mythology, juxtaposing heroic or divine figures with everyday settings.
The twelve scenes draw on classical mythology, juxtaposing heroic or divine figures with everyday settings. The upper row presents dynamic moments—figures soaring, riding beasts, or caught in stormy seas—while the middle tier shows characters in robes, sometimes with musical instruments or in chariots. The lower row simplifies the action, featuring solitary figures such as a staff‑bearing man, a lion‑tamer, and a woman with a fan, suggesting a blend of narrative and genre.
Technique & Style
Della Bella employed fine, incised lines to render texture and depth, achieving realistic effects in water, cloud, and fabric folds despite the monochrome medium. The etching’s delicate hatching creates a sense of volume and movement, while the uniform card‑like frames give the series a cohesive, decorative quality.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the period when della Bella was most active as an etcher, a phase marked by a high volume of work across varied subjects. Although he produced thousands of drawings and a single known painting, his reputation rests largely on his prints, of which this sheet is a representative example.
Context
In mid‑17th‑century Italy, the popularity of playing cards and the fascination with mythological allegory intersected in decorative arts. Della Bella’s series reflects this cultural convergence, offering a portable, illustrated compendium of myth that could be collected or displayed similarly to a deck of cards.
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)
