The Four Elements

Acquired From: Leen Helmink

Colouring: Uncoloured

Condition: Very Good

Confirmed: Yes

Date Acquired: 7/12/2021

Description: This striking series by Stefano della Bella visualises the classical elementsEarth (Terra), Water (Aqua), Air (Aer), and Fire (Ignis)through richly detailed allegorical landscapes and seascapes, rendered in the refined etching technique for which della Bella was renowned. The inscription Stefano della Bella invent. fecit confirms that he both designed (invenit) and executed (fecit) the plates, while the phrase ex cum privilegio Regis Christianissimi indicates that they were published with royal privilege under the patronage of the French king, likely Louis XIV.nEach plate captures the temperament and symbolism of its respective element:n''Terra (Earth)'' (Plate 1) presents a calm pastoral landscape: four figures converse in the foreground before low hills, with a lone rider in the background framed by sparse treesan evocation of groundedness and human presence within nature.n''Aqua (Water)'' (Plate 2) conveys instability and danger: two ships battle turbulent seas, one heeling to port in the foreground, the other receding beside an island under brooding skiessuggesting waters vastness and unpredictability.n''Aer (Air) ''(Plate 3) depicts horsemen buffeted by violent winds. Trees bend to the right, mountains recede, and a central village anchors the composition, evoking the invisible but forceful currents of the atmosphere.n''Ignis (Fire) ''(Plate 4) is the most dramatic of the set: a central ship and surrounding fleet are engulfed in flames, while survivors flee in a crowded rowboatan allegory of destruction, conflict, or divine punishment.nDella Bellas series exemplifies the Baroque fascination with natures power and the symbolic order of the classical elements. Though published in Florence by Nicolas Langlois, the plates bear French royal privilege, indicating cross-cultural circulation between Italian artistry and French publishing networks. Rare as a complete set,

Engraver: Bella, Stefano della (1610-1664)

First published: Florence: Nicolas Langlois, 1648

Image Size (cm): 19.5×8

Mapmaker: Bella, Stefano della (1610-1664)

Price: 567

Primary Category: Prints & Related Material

Purchase Reference: Ledger 2022. Email 13 Feb 2022

Rarity: R2 Very rare – one or two copies appear on the market

References: Alexandre De Vesme and Phyllis Dearborn Massar, Stefano Della Bella (New York: Collectors Edition, 1971), 756.III. See also, Phyllis Dearborn Massar, Presenting Stefano Della Bella, Seventeenth-Century Printmaker (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1971), 9697.

Sheet size (cm): 20.3×9.2

Technique: Etching

This state: 1648