Cartouche met schelp, kroon en tritons met sirenes op de schouders 1646

This 1646 etching by Italian artist Stefano della Bella, titled "Cartouche met schelp, kroon en tritons met sirenes op de schouders," depicts a cartouche, a decorative element often used to frame inscriptions or heraldry, adorned with a crown and a variety of mythological creatures. Two tritons, mythical beings with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish, flank the cartouche. Their bodies are intertwined with the flowing folds of a scallop shell, which forms the base of the composition. Two cherubs, or winged infants, rest atop the cartouche, holding a crown. This intricate design is a testament to della Bella's skill as a draftsman and his talent for capturing the beauty and power of the human form.