Artwork
Sesta Scena di Tutto Cielo
Sesta Scena di Tutto Cielo is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
This etching shows a crowded Italian street scene in 1637. Flags hang between buildings. People chat in doorways.
Stefano Della Bella made this as a restrike—an old plate re-inked and printed years later. The lines are sharp but slightly worn, like a well-used tool. You can feel the bustle without seeing any faces.
Next, look up the same artist’s *View of the Ponte Santa Trinita*.
Overview
Created in 1637, *Sesta Scena di Tutto Cielo* is an etching on laid paper by the Florentine artist Stefano della Bella. The image captures a bustling urban street in Italy, with flags strung between façades and figures gathered in doorways, conveying the lively atmosphere of a Baroque cityscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a crowded street scene, emphasizing communal activity rather than individual portraiture. Flags and architectural details frame the space, suggesting a public celebration or market day, while the anonymous figures convey a sense of collective daily life in 17th‑century Italy.
Technique & Style
Executed as a restrike, the plate was re‑inked and printed after its initial impression, resulting in lines that remain crisp yet show slight wear from repeated use. Della Bella’s handling of line and texture reflects his mastery of etching, delivering a dense, energetic visual narrative typical of Baroque printmaking.
History & Provenance
Stefano della Bella (1610–1667) was a prolific printmaker whose output exceeded a thousand prints, alongside thousands of drawings and a solitary known painting. *Sesta Scena di Tutto Cielo* belongs to this extensive graphic oeuvre, illustrating his versatility across military, courtly, landscape, and genre subjects.
Context
The work emerges from the Baroque period, a time when printmaking flourished as a means of disseminating images of contemporary life. Della Bella’s focus on everyday urban scenes aligns with broader artistic interests in capturing the dynamism of public spaces during the 17th century.
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)
