Plate 5 c. 17th century

Stefano della Bella made this print, Plate 5, using etching techniques in the 17th century. It shows two horizontal bands of elaborate ornamentation. Della Bella was an Italian printmaker who spent a decade in Paris during the reign of Louis XIV. It was a time when the decorative arts played a key role in defining French national identity and in projecting an image of power and sophistication to the world. Della Bella made prints such as these to provide patterns for other artists and artisans to use. The flowing lines and grotesque masks reference classical antiquity but updated for the tastes of the French court. The fact that Plate 5 is part of a series suggests the growing institutionalization of art and design. To understand it better, we can look at the history of the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, the Gobelins Manufactory, and other institutions that shaped artistic production at that time. By situating works of art within their historical context, we can learn about the complex interplay between art, culture, and power.