Stag at bay, from "Animal hunts" (Chasses à différents animaux)
ca. 1654
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 5 5/8 × 9 7/8 in. (14.3 × 25.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Grace M. Pugh, 1985
Accession Number
1986.1180.571
Tags
Art Historical Context
Stefano della Bella, a masterful Italian etcher of the Baroque period, created *Stag at Bay* around 1654 as part of his series *Animal* (*Chasses à différents animaux Working primarily in Florence and Paris, della Bella was renowned for his intricate etchings that captured the energy of equestrian scenes, hunts, and daily life with remarkable fluidity and detail. This print, measuring about 5⅝ × 9⅞ inches on trimmed sheet, exemplifies his skill in rendering dynamic action on a small scale. The etching depicts a dramatic moment in a hunt: a stag cornered at bay, surrounded by pursuing dogs, ho...
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...