1644
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Mythological Playing Cards is a 1644 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sheet holds twelve small black-and-white scenes, each framed like a playing card. The images show dramatic moments: gods and mortals in forests, by water, or in action—some flying, some wrestling, others resting. Clothes are flowing, bodies twist in movement, and the backgrounds are full of trees, clouds, or ships. One odd detail: the scenes look like they’re meant to be shuffled, like a deck of cards. Each one tells a different story, but all fit together in one sheet. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists like Della Bella made these sharp lines.
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
![The Flight into Egypt [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/3a100db72e6d25e3/thumb.webp)
