Head of a bearded old man c. 1641
stefanodellabella
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, etching
yellowing
yellowing background
etching
pencil sketch
portrait reference
cover design
france
book cover design
portrait drawing
tonal art
remaining negative space
watercolor
This etching, created by Florentine artist Stefano della Bella around 1641, depicts the head of an elderly man with a long beard and a wreath of leaves on his head. Della Bella is known for his expressive etchings, and this work showcases his mastery of the medium. The artist's attention to detail in rendering the wrinkles on the man's face and the texture of his hair is evident. This drawing, which is part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art collection, is a prime example of della Bella's expressive style, characterized by a focus on human emotion and character.
Comments
The accomplished Florentine etcher and draftsman Stefano della Bella produced this drawing manual in France, where he spent over a decade of his career. The book, now disassembled, comprised 25 etchings and was published by della Bella’s principal French publisher Pierre Mariette. Drawing manuals were common teaching tools for artists and amateurs learning to draw in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is a kind of pattern book for the aspiring draftsmen to copy, with concise prints depicting body parts—ears, eyes, hands, feet—and a range of head studies and figure types—children, adolescents, young women, old soldiers and saints—which provide models for students seeking to master the representation of the human body.
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