Pair of engravings from the series 'Desseins de... Lot 65

Pair of engravings from the series 'Desseins de quelques conduites de troupes, Canons, et ataques de villes'. 1644 Etching on virgin paper Engraved part 6x12 cm Stefano della Bella was one of the most important artists on the Florentine scene in the seventeenth century, with a particular vocation for engraving. From 1633 to 1636 he worked in Rome with the Medici family, where he had the opportunity to come into direct contact with antiquity. The study of engravings and drawings by ancient masters and the comparison with the Florentine and Flemish masters, then present at the Medici court, were a great stimulus for him. During a legation trip to Paris he was known and appreciated by the French court, and soon received the commission from Cardinal Richelieu to paint a representation of the besieged city of Arras. The engravings offered at auction are from the artist's French period and are distinguished by their pictorial quality, which is revealed in the atmospheric vibration of the backgrounds and in the balance of the composition. composition.