1662
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Four Turks Wearing Turbans is a 1662 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three men in profile, all wearing tall, pointed turbans. Their faces are turned away, but you can see their beards and the way their turbans sit snugly on their heads. The lines are loose and quick, like a hurried sketch—fabric folds and hair are drawn with simple, confident strokes. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in scratched lines, creating a grainy, textured look. This was a fast way to make many copies, which was useful back then. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this one made 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.
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