Artwork
Sesta Scena di Tutto Cielo
Sesta Scena di Tutto Cielo 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.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate: Alfo.us Parigius Inu. / SDB Deli e F.; lower center in plate: SESTA SCENA DI TVTTO CIELO
About this work
Overview
Created in 1637, Sesta Scena di Tutto Cielo is an etching executed on laid paper by Stefano della Bella, a Florentine artist noted for his prolific output in the early Baroque era. The print presents an urban tableau populated with figures and architecture, exemplifying the artist’s capacity to render bustling scenes within the confines of a single sheet.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a lively street setting where individuals engage in everyday activities amid surrounding buildings. While the precise narrative remains open to interpretation, the work reflects della Bella’s interest in capturing the social dynamics of contemporary life, offering a snapshot of 17th‑century urban experience.
Technique & Style
Della Bella employed the etching process, incising his design onto a metal plate before transferring the image onto laid paper. This method allowed him to achieve fine linear detail, evident in the intricate rendering of architectural elements and the textures of clothing. The print’s tonal range and delicate hatching are characteristic of his meticulous approach to the medium.
History & Provenance
Part of a broader oeuvre that exceeds a thousand prints, this piece belongs to della Bella’s extensive series of genre and courtly subjects produced during the Baroque period in Italy. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work has been documented in several catalogues of his prints, underscoring its role in illustrating the artist’s diverse thematic interests.
Own this work as a print
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.
![The Flight into Egypt [verso], by Stefano Della Bella](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/stefano-della-bella--the-flight-into-egypt-verso--3a100db72e6d25e3-w320.webp)
