Hoofd van een jongeman, in profiel naar rechts 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella made this print of a young man's head, in profile, at an unknown date. The clean lines and the sharp focus speak to the artist's background in the printmaking trade and his work for the Medici court in Florence. During this time, the idea of the 'ideal' man was changing. Machiavelli's model of the ruthless ruler was giving way to a more refined courtier. So, we see the rise of etiquette manuals such as Castiglione's 'The Courtier.' Stefano's work speaks to this change in the cultural landscape of seventeenth-century Europe. The profile view allows the artist to display the pure, classical lines of the young man’s face. The slightly downcast eyes give him an air of noble reserve, a valued quality in the era of absolutist monarchy. By looking at the cultural context of the work, social historians can gain insight into the subtle shifts in power and the construction of gender norms in this period. Sources on courtly life and the history of manners are crucial for understanding this artwork and the society that produced it.