Stefano
della Bella (1610 -
1664)
Four
plates (“L’Esté” [Summer]; “L'Automne” [Autumn]; “L'Hyver” [Winter];
“Printemps” [Spring]) to the series, “The Four Seasons”, c.1641, published by Israël
Henriet (c.1590–1661)
The
Curator of the British Museum offers the following insights about the series in
which these prints feature:
“Series
of four prints representing the seasons …. It was thought by De Vesme that only
the human figures in each print were the work of Stefano della Bella, and that
the ornament work was done by Abraham Bosse” (see BM no. 1871,0513.641).
Etchings
on fine laid paper, trimmed with narrow margins around the image borderline and
backed with individual support sheets.
Size
of each print with slight variations: (sheet) 9.5 x 5.2 cm; (image borderline)
9.2 x 4.9 cm.
Inscribed
on each plate: (within lower cartouche) the title and "Israel excud."
or ”Israel. ex.”; (below cartouche at left) "Avec privil.”; (below
cartouche at right)
Condition:
well-printed impressions in excellent condition, trimmed close to the image
borderline and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi
paper.
I
am selling this very rare set of four etching executed by one of the major old
masters, for AU$500 in total for the four prints (currently US$339.05/EUR307.93/GBP263.36
at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the
world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).
If
you are interested in purchasing these small but graphically strong etchings featuring
classical figures personifying the four seasons, please contact me
(oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make
the payment easy.
This series of etchings has been sold
“L'Esté”
(Summer)
De
Vesme/Massar 1971 84 (A de Vesme [revised by Phyllis D Massar] 1971, “Stefano
della Bella”, New York, Collectors Editions Ltd.)
“Summer;
a woman standing in a cornfield crowned with ears of corn, holding a sheaf of
corn in her right hand and a scythe in her left hand, within a cartouche
surmounted by corn”
“L'Automne”
(Autumn)
De
Vesme/Massar 1971 85
“Autumn;
a satyr to left leaning against a tree with a vine wrapped around it, the satyr
holding a bunch of grapes in his hand; within a cartouche surmounted by bunches
of grapes”
“L'Hyver” (Winter)
De
Vesme/Massar 1971 86
“Winter;
an old cloaked man standing in centre warming his hands above a brazier on the
ground to left; within a cartouche surmounted by bare branches”
“Printemps”
(Spring)
De
Vesme/Massar 1971 83
The
British Museum offers the following description of this print:
“Spring;
a young woman standing facing front crowned with a garland of flowers and
holding a garland in each hand, within a cartouche ornamented with flowers”
