Plate 17: nine studies of horse heads, from 'Various heads and figures' (Diverses têtes et figures)

Art Historical Context

In the bustling artistic circles of 17th-century Europe, Stefano della Bella, a masterful Florentine etcher, captured the noble spirit of horses in *Plate 17: nine studies of horse heads* from his series *Various heads and figures* (*Diverses têtes et figures*), published in 1650 by Israël Henriet. This intimate etching, measuring just over 3 inches across, showcases nine dynamic profiles of equine heads—snarling, alert, and serene—reflecting della Bella's fascination with animal anatomy during the Baroque era. Horses symbolized power and warfare in an age of cavalry and royal hunts, making these studies both practical references for artists and emblems of vitality. Della Bella's etching technique shines here: using a needle to incise fine lines into a copper plate, he achieved remarkable detail and texture in such a tiny format (plate: 8.2 x 6.6 cm). His loose, expressive style—honed in Paris and influenced by Jacques Callot—blends precision with energy, influencing later printmakers. Part of a diverse album of heads and figures, this work highlights the period's growing interest in naturalistic studies over rigid classicism. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the 2011 bequest of Phyllis Massar, it invites visitors to marvel at how della Bella distilled equine majesty into miniature masterpieces, bridging art and observation.

About the Artist

Stefano della Bella|Israël Henriet · 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...