STEFANA DE LA, a most eminent engraver, was born at Florence A. D. 1610. His father was a goldsmith; and he himself began to work at his father's business. But whilst he was learning to draw, in order to perfect himself in that profession, some of the prints of Callot fell by accident into his hands; with which he was so delighted, that he prevailed upon his father to permit him to apply himself to engraving; and he became the disciple of Canta Gallina, who was also the instructor of Callot. De la Bella at first imitated the manner of Callot. His abilities soon began to manifest themselves: and as by degrees he acquired a facility in the handling of the point, he quitted the style in which he only thone as an imitator, and adopted one entirely his own, which in freedom and spirit is said even to have surpassed that of his fellow disciple. He went to Paris A. D. 1642, where he formed an acquaintance with Israel Silvestre, then newly returned from Rome; and he was much employed by Henriette the uncle of Silvestre. Some time after, Cardinal Richelieu engaged him to go to Arras and make drawings of the siege and taking of that town by the royal army; which drawings he engraved at his return. He also went to Holland, where, it is reported, he saw some of the prints of Rembrandt Gerretz, and attempted to imitate them; but finding he did not succeed to his expectations, he dropped that design, and continued to pursue his own manner, as most suitable to his genius. After abiding some considerable time at Paris, his family affairs obliged him to return to Florence; where he obtained a pension from the Great Duke, and was appointed to instruct the prince Cosmo his son in the art of design. Being subject to violent pains in the head, his life was rendered very uncomfortable by this cruel disorder, which at last put an end to it A. D. 1664, when he was only 54 years of age. De la Bella drew very correctly, and with great taste. His works manifest much genius and vast fertility of invention. The fire and animation which appears in them compensates for their flightiness; and we may reasonably expect to find them flight when we are told that he engraved 1400 plates.