Bella, Stefano Della

Bella, Stefano della a Florentine engraver, was born May 18, 1610. He was the son of a goldsmith,, and intended for that profession; but he soon manifested a genius for drawing, and was placed under the instruction of Cesare Dandini. He visited Paris in 1642, where he executed some plates for Heinrich, the uncle of Israel Sylvestre. He died at Florence, July 12, 1664. The following are some of his principal religious works: The Virgin Suckling the Infant Jesus; The Triumph of our Church; John the Baptist Getting Water with his Cup; The Virgin with the Infant Jesus on her Knee; The Holy Family; The Repose in Egypt, with St. Joseph Reading, Leaning against a Tree; a round plate of the Flight into Egypt, with the Heads of Angels. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.; Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.