Death carrying a child, from 'The five deaths' (Les cinq Morts) ca. 1648 Stefano della Bella Italian Stefano della Bella was one of the most talented and prolific printmakers of the seventeenth century. Unlike most etchers of his time, who had careers as painters, della Bella devoted himself almost exclusively to printmaking, although he is also highly regarded for the spirited drawings he made in preparation for his prints. Despite their higher degree of finish, his etchings retain much of the fluidity and dynamism of his drawings. Late in his career, he experimented with duplicating the tonal washes of his drawings in his prints. Della Bella's etchings are especially admired for their rich textures and atmospheric effects and for the wide range of subject matter depicted in a direct and engaging way. Soldiers, beggars, satyr families, animals, gardens, ruins, splendid festivals, and scenes of everyday life are among the subjects he explored. Della Bella was supported by the Medici fo