Artwork
Title Page for "Plusieurs Testes Coiffées a la Persienne"
Title Page for "Plusieurs Testes Coiffées a la Persienne" is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1650, this etching on laid paper serves as the title page for a collection titled *Plusieurs Testes Coiffées a la Persienne*.
About this work
Overview
The image presents a single male figure, shown from the shoulders up within an oval border, his head turned to the left and topped by a hat.
Created in 1650, this etching on laid paper serves as the title page for a collection titled *Plusieurs Testes Coiffées a la Persienne*. The image presents a single male figure, shown from the shoulders up within an oval border, his head turned to the left and topped by a hat. A high‑collared shirt frames his neck, while a simple grid fills the background and French text runs along the top and bottom edges.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a man whose hairstyle and attire reference contemporary Persian fashion, a theme suggested by the French caption that identifies the work as part of a series of “Persian‑styled heads.” The emphasis on costume and facial detail points to an interest in exotic dress and the visual documentation of fashionable affectations in mid‑seventeenth‑century Europe.
Technique & Style
Executed with fine, intersecting lines and careful hatching, the etching achieves a realistic rendering of texture on the hat, fabric, and skin. The use of laid paper, common for prints of the period, provides a slightly textured surface that enhances the depth created by the intricate shading. The oval frame and grid background help focus attention on the figure while providing a modest decorative context.
History & Provenance
The work is attributed to Stefano della Bella, a Florentine‑born draughtsman and printmaker active in the mid‑1600s. Della Bella produced an extensive output of etchings—over a thousand—covering military, courtly, and genre subjects, though only a single painting is documented. This title page illustrates his skill in portraiture and his involvement in publishing projects that combined visual and textual elements.
Context
During the 1650s, European interest in Eastern costume was reflected in prints that circulated among collectors and fashion-conscious audiences. Della Bella’s etching fits within this trend, offering a detailed study of a Persian‑inspired coiffure that would have appealed to connoisseurs of exotic styles and to publishers seeking illustrative material for fashion books.
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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