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 is Stefano della Bella’s etching from 1641, made as the frontispiece for ‘Poems by Desmarets’. It presents us with a winged female figure of poetry, complete with laurel wreath and trumpet. She sits above a collection of discarded objects, including masks, books and weapons, while a cherubic figure tunes a lute beside her. In 17th century France, visual imagery served the purpose of glorifying King and Country. Della Bella’s etching employs this visual language to demonstrate how poetry can transcend more earthly pursuits such as war and politics, which may be understood to be symbolised in the mask and weapons. At the time, institutions such as the Académie Française were establishing cultural standards and reinforcing social hierarchies. The art of poetry, as represented here, was positioned at the apex of the social order. To fully understand the work, we might consult primary sources, such as historical documents and literary texts, to reconstruct the social and institutional context in which it was created. The image of poetry presented here demonstrates how artistic expression is deeply entwined with the cultural and political forces of its time.