A cow ascending a bank, a peasant woman leading two cows across a bridge in background, plate 9 from "Diversi capricci"

Art Historical Context

In the intricate etching *A Cow Ascending a Bank, a Peasant Woman Leading Two Cows Across a Bridge in Background* (plate 9 from *Diversi capricci*), Stefano della Bella captures a whimsical pastoral moment from around 1644–47. Della Bella, a masterful Italian printmaker active in Florence and Paris, was renowned for his Baroque-era etchings that blended everyday rural life with imaginative flair. Published by Nicolas Langlois, this small sheet (just 3 5/16 × 3 7/8 in.) exemplifies the *capricci* series—playful vignettes of animals, peasants, and landscapes that delighted 17th-century collectors. The scene unfolds with dynamic energy: a cow climbs a steep bank in the foreground, while a sturdy peasant woman guides two more across a rustic bridge, evoking the timeless rhythm of agrarian life. Etching's fine lines allowed Della Bella to render textures—from shaggy hides to weathered wood—with remarkable precision, especially in this third state of four, where refinements enhanced depth and contrast. Such portable prints were prized for their affordability and detail, bridging elite art with popular tastes. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917, this work highlights Della Bella's influence on European printmaking, merging realism with caprice to celebrate humble subjects like bridges, women, and cows in a pre-industrial world. A charming window into Baroque whimsy!

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|Nicolas Langlois · 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...