Stefano della Bella (1610-1664) View and perspective... Lot 4

Stefano della Bella (1610-1664) View and perspective of the Cardinal Palace from the garden (Frontispiece to the suite). Circa 1650-1655. Etching in collaboration with Israël Silvestre. 246x130. De Vesme, Massar 863; Faucheux 49. Very fine and fresh proof on thin laid paper (watermark: large coat of arms in a double circle), from the 1st state (of 3), before replacement of the letter "U" in "Persectiue" by the letter "V". Slight normal curling to edges of folio. Minor foxing. Full margins. This plate served as the frontispiece to a suite of 12 plates depicting the Louvre palace and its surroundings. The buildings were engraved by I. Silvestre, the figure of renown by Della Bella. The artist was flattering Cardinal de Richelieu, whose palace is shown here and who had commissioned him to paint the Siege of Arras in 1641.