Stefano della Bella’s frontispiece etching for “Ornamenti o Grottesche”, c1653

Stefano della Bella (1610–1664)

“Ornamenti o Grottesche”, c1653, title/frontispiece plate from the series of 12 plates (including this title plate), “Ornamenti o grottesche” (Ornaments and grotesques).

See all the plates this series at the Meropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search#!/search?perPage=20&offset=0&pageSize=0&sortBy=relevance&sortOrder=asc&q=Ornamenti%20o%20Grottesche&searchField=All

Etching on fine laid paper trimmed to thread margins around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 17 x 6.6 cm

Inscribed on plate within the round cartouche: “ORNAMANTI/ O/ GROTTESCHE/ di Stef. Della Bella" (Note: there is a tiny “I” inscribed above the “T” creating the first word, “ORNAMANTI”.)

Early impression (based on the lack of wear to the plate) of the only state (?)

De Vesme/Massar 1971 1003 (A.de Vesme 1971, revised by Phyllis D.Massar, “Stefano della Bella”, New York)

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Frontispiece to series; ornament panel with two lion heads at base, their bodies forming looping branches around two eagles, surmounted by a circle containing title lettering. c.1653”

(http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1507457&partId=1&searchText=Ornament+with+Eagles+and+Lion+Heads&people=132763&page=1)

See also the description of this print at the Cooper Hewitt Collection (https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18218879/) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/377609?searchField=All&sortBy=relevance&ft=Ornamenti+o+Grottesche&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=1).

Condition: crisp impression in very good condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or foxing, but there is a dot stain at the centre of the right edge) trimmed to thread margins around the platemark and backed with an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this small vertical ornamental panel featuring two eagles with spread wings framed by entwined palm leaves and banderoles that merge into lion heads at the bottom of the design for [deleted] at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this graphically strong ornamental design, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold