Titelprent met cartouche met tekst 1620 - 1647

This is Stefano della Bella’s title print with cartouche and text, made sometime between 1620 and 1664. The print offers a glimpse into the world of 17th-century Parisian portraiture, reflecting the intersection of art, commerce, and royal patronage. The inscription tells us this is a collection of diverse pieces that serve the art of portraiture, made by Della Bella, and sold in Paris by F. L'anglois on Saint Jacques street "avec Privilege du Roy." It's a world steeped in the power dynamics of the time. The privilege granted by the King wasn't just about business; it was about controlling the narrative, deciding what images could be circulated, and who had the right to circulate them. Consider the implications of "serving the art of portraiture." Who were these portraits for? Who could afford to have their likeness captured and disseminated? It speaks to the era's class structure, where representation was a privilege. Della Bella invites us to consider who is seen, who is unseen, and who decides.