Artwork
Screen Depicting the Italian Rebus of Fortune
Screen Depicting the Italian Rebus of Fortune is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Screen Depicting the Italian Rebus of Fortune is an etching created by Stefano della Bella in 1637. The work is a print on laid paper, characteristic of the medium's popularity during this period.
Subject & Meaning
The etching features a complex scene with various symbols, including a ship, mermaid, and anchor, arranged as a rebus. The imagery is not merely decorative, but rather a puzzle where pictures represent words or ideas.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in etching, a technique della Bella mastered during his career as a draughtsman and printmaker. The style is typical of della Bella's diverse output, which included a wide range of subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
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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