1655
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Fall of Phaeton is a 1655 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a chaotic scene with a horse rearing up and a falling figure clinging to its back. The lines are loose and swirling, giving everything a sense of wild movement. The horse’s muscles and the rider’s limbs are drawn with quick, sketchy strokes, almost like scribbles. The artist used ink and wash to add shadow and depth, making the scene feel dramatic. The paper looks old, with a yellowed edge, and the drawing feels like a quick study rather than a finished work. If you like this style, look up Baroque next—it’s the movement behind this kind of bold, emotional energy.
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 pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
![The Fall of the Rebel Angels [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/e9b082b33c001c66/thumb.webp)
![Bradamante Tries to Catch Hold of the Hippogryph [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/f9c9ee68fd17e997/thumb.webp)
![The Flight into Egypt [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/3a100db72e6d25e3/thumb.webp)
