Design for a Glass (?) Ewer

Stefano della Bella|Master of the Blue Wash

ca. 1640-1660 · Pen and brown ink over black chalk, blue wash · Drawings and Prints

This drawing shows the side elevation of a ewer, likely intended to be executed in glass. On the left, a delicate handle takes the shape of a swan attacking a serpent. The side of the ewer shows a ram’s head, while the front is decorated with a chimeric hybrid creature with wings and a bird-like head. The left and right side of the design further show variant ideas for the surface treatment of the ewer. The drawing is finished with a light blue wash that was likely applied to suggest that the ewer was meant to executed in glass. It is part of a group of twenty similar drawings that have traditionally been counted as the work of the prolific Italian artist Stefano della Bella. However, the distinct execution with the blue wash has also given rise to the idea that they were executed by another artist, who is therefore referred to as 'The Master of the Blue Wash'.

Artist

Stefano della Bella|Master of the Blue Wash

Date

ca. 1640-1660

Medium

Pen and brown ink over black chalk, blue wash

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Anonymous Gift, in memory of Walter E. Stait, 2010