Artwork
Sultaness in a Banded Turban, Turned to the Right
Sultaness in a Banded Turban, Turned to the Right is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1650, this black‑and‑white print depicts a woman turned to the right, her head crowned by an elaborate turban bound with a jeweled band. The portrait is executed as an etching on laid paper, a medium that allowed the artist to render fine details such as the fur collar and the subtle folds of her garments.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is presented as a sultaness, a fashionable exotic archetype popular in 17th‑century European art. Her hair is concealed beneath the towering headpiece, and the swift, sketch‑like lines that outline her face and hair convey a sense of immediacy, suggesting a portrait that captures a fleeting, perhaps theatrical, moment.
Technique & Style
The work employs the etching process, wherein the image is incised into a metal plate before being transferred to paper. Della Bella’s handling of line is notably light and energetic, using delicate strokes to suggest texture in the fur collar and the intricate drapery of the clothing, while the overall composition retains a lively, almost spontaneous quality.
History & Provenance
The print is attributed to Stefano della Bella, a Florentine artist renowned for his prolific output of prints and drawings in the mid‑17th century. Though he produced more than a thousand prints, only a single painting by him is documented. This piece exemplifies his frequent engagement with portraiture and courtly subjects within his extensive printmaking career.
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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