1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Fantastic Vases is a 1646 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows five tall, fancy vases filled with wild plants and flowers. The vases have swirling handles and strange shapes, like they’re made up in your head. Some look heavy and solid, while others seem light and airy, all drawn in black lines on a light background. The artist used tiny details to make the leaves and flowers look real, even though they’re not. The lines are so precise they almost feel like they could jump off the page. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this make prints with acid and needles.
Stefano della Bella (18 May 1610 – 12 July 1664) was an Italian draughtsman and printmaker known for etchings of a great variety of subjects, including military and court scenes, landscapes, and lively genre scenes.
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