Plate 1: a coat of arms at bottom center surrounded by a draped curtain, title page for 'Troops, cannons, and attacks on towns' (Dessins de quelques conduites de troupes, canons, et ataques de villes) 1635 - 1645

This is the title page made by Stefano della Bella as an etching. The print, from 17th century France, advertises a series of images depicting military campaigns. But consider what isn't shown. What are the social conditions that make such imagery possible? The drapery around the title and the coat-of-arms are visual cues of wealth and power. The 'privilege' mentioned at the bottom left signifies the artist's access to royal patronage. Della Bella dedicated this series to Henry du Plesses, evidence of how aristocratic institutions commissioned art. The fine lines of the print, while showcasing the artist's skill, sanitize and aestheticize violence. What is the public role of art, when the horrors of war become high-end commodities? To truly understand this piece, we need to look at the history of military campaigns in 17th century France, as well as the archives of royal patronage. Only then can we start to examine its politics of imagery.