Dogs, plate 11 from "Various Animals" (Diversi Animali)
ca. 1641
Medium
Etching; third state of three (De Vesme)
Dimensions
Plate: 3 5/16 × 4 3/16 in. (8.4 × 10.6 cm) Sheet: 3 9/16 × 4 3/8 in. (9 × 11.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1917
Accession Number
17.50.17-260
Tags
Art Historical Context
Stefano della Bella, a prominent 17th-century Italian etcher active in Florence and Paris, created this lively etching *Dogs, plate 11 from "Various" (Diversi Animali)* 1641. Part of a charming series depicting a menagerie of beasts, this small plate (just over 3 by 4 inches) captures alert dogs in dynamic poses, showcasing della Bella's mastery of intricate line work and spirited animal studies. His Baroque style infuses the scene with energy and realism, reflecting the era's fascination with nature's vitality amid grand artistic patronage. As a third-state etching—the final version refined ...
About the Artist
Stefano della Bella · 1610–1664
Stefano della Bella (1610-1664) was one of the most prolific and versatile printmakers of the Italian Baroque period, leaving behind 1,052 prints and several thousand drawings that captured the vivid essence of 17th-century European life. Born in Florence on May 18, 1610, to a family of artists, he trained initially as a goldsmith before studying painting under Cesare Dandini and etching under Rem...