Who painted The Water Spray?

The Water Spray was painted by Stefano Della Bella in 1653.

Where can I see The Water Spray?

The Water Spray is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Water Spray?

The Water Spray is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Water Spray

Stefano Della Bella , 1653

The Water Spray is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1653, *The Water Spray* is an etching on laid paper by the Florentine artist Stefano della Bella. Executed as a restrike, the print presents a lively park scene populated by figures on a path, seated on benches, and strolling in the distance. The composition centers on two women in flowing garments, one bending and another holding a fan, set against a backdrop of trees.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of everyday leisure, depicting a mixed group of park-goers engaged in casual activity. The focus on the two women, their gestures and attire, suggests a subtle narrative of social interaction and fashion, while the surrounding figures and foliage convey a sense of communal space and the pleasures of public recreation in the mid‑seventeenth century.

Technique & Style

Della Bella employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate that were then transferred onto laid paper.

Della Bella employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate that were then transferred onto laid paper. The delicate rendering of fabrics, foliage, and architectural details reflects the precision typical of 1600s printmaking. The use of restrained line work creates texture and depth, allowing the viewer to discern individual gestures and the atmospheric setting without reliance on tonal shading.

History & Provenance

Stefano della Bella, a prolific printmaker known for a catalogue exceeding a thousand works, produced *The Water Spray* during a period of intense output. The piece exists as a restrike, indicating that the plate was reprinted after the initial edition, a common practice to meet demand. Its survival on laid paper provides insight into the material preferences of Italian print workshops in the mid‑seventeenth century.

Artist & collection

Artist

Stefano Della Bella

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.