Roman Landscape with Ruins and Aqueduct
Stefano della Bella
* 1610 in Florence † 1664 in Florence
Grey wash over black chalk. Size of sheet: 21.8 x 28.3 cm.
Provenance: Louis Serries, médailleur.
Sold
This drawing belongs to a series of Roman landscapes and very probably dates from Stefano’s second sojourn in Rome from 1651-64.
This drawing and the following are very reminiscent of Claude Lorraine (1600 - 1682) drawings of the same period, and those of Cornelis van Poelenburgh (1594 – 1667), a Dutch landscape painter and draughtsman. He was the leading representative of the first generation of Dutch landscape painters who were active in Rome.
This and the following sheet is comparable in style and technique to various drawings in the Cabinetto Nationale della Stampa Rome, Inv. F.C 126083 (Isola, 1976, cat. No 117); Inv. F.C. 126088 (Isola, 1976, cat. No 118); Inv. F.C 126084 (Isola, 1976, cat. No 119). As well in the Louvre (Inv. 300 -1; 300 – 2; 301 -2; 302-1). The British Museum purchased in 2005 a very similar sheet (BM 2005,0731.2).
The drawing will be sold in an early 18th-century French frame (uncut).