After Stefano della Bella

(1610-1664)
The Medici Vase, pen and brown ink, on laid paper, 29 x 28,5 cm, fixed to old support, browned, stained, damaged, (Sch)
Provenance:
Pierre Crozat (?), (1661-1740), Paris, or Queen Christina of Schweden(1626-1689), Lugt 474;
Private collection, Italy.

The present drawing which is probably from the collection of Pierre Crozat (1661-1740) or Queen Christina of Schweden (1626-1689) is based on the etching “Medici Vase” by Stefano della Bella. The print was published in 1656 as part of the series "Six grandes vues, dont quatre de Rome et deux de la Campagne romaine". A young draughtsman is seated on a garden terrace and is drawing the big Medici Vase depicting the “Sacrifice of Iphigenia”. The view opens to a Baroque landscape garden with cypresses and an obelisk in the background. The drawing is almost identical with the etching and is presumably a 17th century copy after the print. For the etching cf. Alexandre de Vesme, Phyllis D. Massar, Stefano della Bella. Catalogue Raisonné, New York 1971, Cat. No. 128.832