Artwork
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No 1, Title Page
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No 1, Title Page is a print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1646 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Stefano della Bella's *Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No 1, Title Page* (1646) is an etched title page showcasing the artist's ornamental design prowess.
Subject & Meaning
The print features a intricate frame with curly scrolls, faces, a floating baby angel, and contrasting masks (happy and sad), surrounded by bilingual text (French and Italian) identifying the artist and work. The design blends playful and dramatic elements, reflecting the interplay of art and life.
Technique & Style
Della Bella employed etching to create the title page, characteristic of his technical skill. The swirling, curly motifs and inclusion of figurative elements (angels, masks) align with the decorative and expressive tendencies of 17th-century Italian printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1646, this title page was part of a book intended to inspire fellow artists with its decorative designs. Della Bella signed the work, underscoring his authorship within his extensive oeuvre of over a thousand prints and thousands of drawings.
Context
This work is situated within the broader Baroque movement, evident in its dramatic flair and detailed ornamentation, inviting comparison with the movement's characteristic use of intense emotion and intricate design.
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)
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No 11
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No 7
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No. 2, Dedication Page
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No 10
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No. 3
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No. 6
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No. 5
Collection of Various Caprices and New Designs of Cartouches and Ornaments: No 8