Frontispiece for 'Poems by Desmarets' (Oeuvres poétiques de Desmarets): a winged woman representing poetry sitting in center, turned towards the left, holding a bugle in her left hand, a putto at right tuning a lute, a mask, books, and swords on ground below 1641

This etching, created in 1641 by Stefano della Bella, serves as the frontispiece for the "Oeuvres poétiques" of Jean Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin. The composition depicts a winged woman representing poetry, seated and holding a bugle, a symbol of her ability to proclaim her message. A putto at the right tunes a lute, highlighting the musical aspect of poetry, while scattered objects on the ground, including a mask, books, and swords, suggest the various themes explored in Desmarets' work. This detailed image showcases della Bella's skill in capturing both the intellectual and aesthetic dimensions of poetry.