1646
ink
paper
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 six big vases with wild, curly plants on top. Each vase has a different shape—some look like animals, some like fancy bowls. Tiny people are climbing on them or sitting inside. The lines are dark and scratchy, like someone carved them into metal. Notice how the artist packed a lot of strange shapes into one small space. The plants look almost alive, spilling over the edges. Try looking up etching to see how this kind of drawing was made.
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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