Stella, the draftsman
Jacques Stella drew throughout all the phases of his career. In the 17th century, drawing was the basis of all artistic teaching. It was used to study figures and to trace the outlines of painted compositions. Drawings also served as models for printmaking. Collectors appreciated this technique since it reveals the soul of the artist.
While a number of Stella's drawings are highly complex in their construction, the artist also sketched from real life. In the style of Jacques Callot, who he met in Florence, he enjoyed depicting landscapes and scenes from daily life with men at work, card players, or details of family life. According to the 17th century biographer of French artists André Félibien, Stella spent the long winter evenings producing a series of drawings for La Vie de la Vierge (The Life of the Virgin). The many surviving drawings are a tiny percentage of an extensive portfolio. His delicate drawings, rich in narrative inventions provide a wonderful addition to his paintings.
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