1637
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Sailors Seated on a Bank is a 1637 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three sailors by the water’s edge. One man sits on a bundle, leaning on his knees, while another crouches nearby with a rope. A third stands, holding a hat in one hand. In the background, a ship sails on calm waves, and a woman in a long dress stands near a building. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show movement and texture—notice how the rope and fabric look almost woven into the scene. The paper has a rough, aged feel, like it’s been handled a lot. Check out how this was made using etching.
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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