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 six fancy vases lined up in a row. Each one has different shapes and designs—some look heavy with carved handles, others are tall and smooth, and one even holds a weird plant with skulls wrapped around it. The lines are dark and precise, like they were scratched into a metal plate. The artist signed it as *Stefano della Bella* and marked it *1646*, which might mean this was made that year. The strange mix of shapes and skulls suggests these vases weren’t just for looks—they might have had symbolic meanings too. Want to see more like this? Check out etching to learn how artists create these kinds of prints.
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.
See the richer artist page
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