1637
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Suicide of Dido is a 1637 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman in a flowing robe, half-turned away. Her left arm is wrapped around her body, while her right hand clutches at her chest. A cloak billows behind her, and her hair is loose and wild. Near her feet lies a broken sword, half-buried in the ground. The artist used quick, scratchy lines to show movement and emotion. The rough texture makes the scene feel urgent and dramatic. Next, look up the technique: etching to see how artists like this 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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