Name: The Five Deaths ('Les Cinq Morts')
Brand: STEFANO DELLA BELLA (1610-1664)
Price: 4500.00 USD
Availability: SoldOut

STEFANO DELLA BELLA (1610-1664)
The Five Deaths ('Les Cinq Morts')
the complete set of five etchings, 1645-51, on laid paper, with an elaborate Cardinal's Crest watermarks (similar to Haewood 691) or indistinct Letters, good impressions of the second state (of three), one plate third state (of four), all before Vincent's address, all on square sheets, with narrow margins in places or trimmed just inside the platemark, some minor staining, generally in good condition
Images 173 x 145 mm. (and similar)
Sheets 101 x 152 mm. (and similar)
(5)

References:
De Vesme & Massar 87-91

Please note this lot is the property of a private collector.

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Lot Essay

This famous and terrifying series is a variation on the Dance of Death-theme: Death snatches humans - children, men and women of all ages and social strata - forcefully and unexpectedly from life. Stefano della Bella's personifications of Death are not friendly reminders of our own mortality, but violent agents of destruction.

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Condition report

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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

In addition to or in elaboration of the lot description:

De V. 87 (Death on Horseback):
- second state (of three).
- watermark Cardinal's Crest.
- with small margins on three sides, trimmed inside the platemark at right.
- a tiny repair at the lower left sheet edge.
- paper hinges at the upper corners verso.

De V. 88 (Death with Baby, head down):
- second state (of three).
- watermark Letters.
- narrow to thread margins, trimmed to or just inside the platemark in places.
- a pale brown stain across the lower part of the subject, showing through from the reverse.
- the tip of the lower right sheet corner made up.
- pale discolouration of the sheet in places.
- paper hinges at the upper corners verso.

De V. 89 (Death with Child, head up):
- second state (of three).
- watermark Cardinal's Crest.
- slightly irregular narrow margins, trimmed to the platemark in places.
- a foxmark in the sky at left.
- a brown stain on the reverse.
- paper hinges at the upper corners verso.

De V. 90 (Death with young woman):
- third state (of four).
- watermark Cardinal's Crest.
- with thread margins or trimmed on the platemark.
- minor surface dirt and very minor staining.
- an adhesive stain at upper sheet edge verso.
- paper hinges at the upper corners verso.

De V. 91 (Death in a Grave)
- second state (of three).
- watermark Letters.
- with narrow to thread margins, trimmed on or just inside the platemark in places.
- a repaired tear in the lower right margin.
- adhesive stains at the corners verso, with associated minor creases in the corners recto.

Otherwise as described in the lot description and generally in good condition.

The condition of lots sold can vary widely due to factors such as age, previous damage, restoration, repair, and wear and tear. The nature of the lots sold means that they will rarely be in perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

Print Report