Ostrich hunt, from 'Animal hunts' (Chasses à différents animaux)

Art Historical Context

Stefano della Bella, a 17th-century Italian etcher who worked extensively in France, created *Ostrich Hunt* around 1654 as part of his dynamic series *Animal Hunts* (*Chasses à différents animaux*). This etching captures the thrill of an exotic chase, featuring hunters on horseback pursuing ostriches with dogs in hot pursuit. The scene reflects the Baroque era's fascination with movement, spectacle, and the grandeur of the hunt—a popular motif among European nobility, evoking both real aristocratic pastimes and imaginative encounters with far-off wildlife. Rendered in etching, a technique della Bella perfected for its precision and fluidity, the print showcases intricate line work that conveys speed and chaos: the ostriches' long necks arching in flight, horses rearing, and figures in period attire frozen mid-action. Measuring just 6 5/16 × 8 5/8 inches, its compact scale belies the bustling energy, making it a testament to the artist's ability to pack vivid narratives into small formats. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights etching's role in democratizing art, allowing detailed scenes to be widely reproduced and collected. Today, *Ostrich Hunt* invites us to marvel at della Bella's Baroque virtuosity, blending realism with drama to transport viewers to a world of adventure and artistry.

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...