Plate 9: five heads, two young women at left, a bearded man at upper right, a young woman and a bearded man at bottom right, from 'The Book for Learning to Draw' (Livre pour apprendre à dessiner) 1647 - 1652

Stefano della Bella created this drawing, "Plate 9," as part of "The Book for Learning to Draw." Here, we see classical heads, rendered with careful attention to form and expression, archetypes of beauty and wisdom. Observe how the artist contrasts youth and age through physiognomy: the smooth skin of the young versus the furrowed brows of the old. These images evoke classical antiquity, recalling the tradition of portrait busts used to idealize and immortalize individuals. The motif of juxtaposing youthful and aged faces recurs throughout art history, from ancient Roman portraiture to Renaissance depictions of philosophers and saints. There’s an inherent psychological tension in this contrast, reflecting our subconscious contemplation of mortality. It’s a poignant reminder of the transient nature of youth and the inevitable passage of time. Bella is not merely copying classical forms, but engaging with a visual language that continues to resonate, evoking a sense of timelessness in the interplay between youth and age.