Cart Horse, plate 22 from "Various Animals" (Diversi Animali)

Art Historical Context

Behold the sturdy Cart Horse, plate 22 from Stefano della Bella's enchanting series *Diversi Animali* (Various Animals), etched around 1641. This print, now in the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints collection, captures the noble strength of a working horse in mid-stride, its muscles taut and mane flowing—a testament to della Bella's skill in rendering animal vitality. The Italian Baroque master, trained in Florence under the Medici patronage and later active in Paris, produced these small-scale etchings as part of a broader fascination with nature's creatures during the 17th century. Crafted as a second state of three (per De Vesme's catalogue), this etching measures just 3 7/16 × 4 3/8 inches on the plate, showcasing the precision of the medium. Etching allowed della Bella to achieve delicate, expressive lines with acid-bitten grooves, far surpassing woodcuts in finesse and enabling widespread dissemination of his lively studies. Publisher Pierre Mariette likely facilitated its distribution, bridging Italian artistry with French audiences. Horses like this cart horse symbolized labor and endurance in an era of agrarian toil and equestrian culture, making the print both a technical marvel and a window into daily life. Acquired through the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest in 1917, it invites us to appreciate the quiet poetry in everyday beasts.

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|Pierre Mariette · 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...