Plate 9: Leopard, from "Various animals" (Diversi animali)

Art Historical Context

Stefano della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher of the Baroque era (1610–1664), this striking depiction of a leopard as Plate 9 from his series *Diversi animali (Various Animals), around 1641. Working primarily in Florence and Paris, della Bella was renowned for his intricate, lively prints that captured the dynamism of nature, influenced by predecessors like Jacques Callot and contemporaries such as Rembrandt. This small etching (just 3⅜ × 4¼ inches) showcases his skill in rendering wild animals with fluid lines and expressive poses, reflecting the 17th-century fascination with exotic fauna amid Europe's expanding knowledge of the natural world through exploration and menageries. The medium—etching in its third and final state of three (per De Vesme's catalog)—highlights della Bella's technical prowess. Etching allowed for delicate, spontaneous lines etched into a copper plate with acid, producing rich tonal variations and textures that bring the leopard's spotted coat, tensed muscles, and alert gaze to life. Collectors prized these states for their progressive refinements, making this impression a gem from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection, bequeathed by Grace M. Pugh in 1985. This print not only exemplifies Baroque naturalism but also invites viewers to marvel at the leopard's ferocity distilled into miniature artistry, bridging scientific observation with aesthetic delight in an age of discovery.

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...