Artwork
A Black Man Feeding a Horse
A Black Man Feeding a Horse is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1662, this etching on laid paper is attributed to Stefano della Bella, a Florentine artist noted for his prolific output of prints. The image presents a domestic scene in which a black man, a woman, and a child interact with a horse, rendered in the artist’s characteristic quick, sketch‑like line work.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a black man wearing a turban, leans toward the horse, holding its reins while feeding it. Adjacent, a woman in a headscarf adjusts the animal’s bridle, and a small child watches the activity. The composition captures a moment of everyday care, highlighting social diversity within a rural setting.
Technique & Style
Della Bella employed the etching process, incising lines into a metal plate that retain ink to produce a grainy, textured surface. The work’s rough, scratchy strokes and minimal shading suggest a rapid study, a method often used for prints intended for broad distribution.
History & Provenance
The print is a restrike, indicating it was reproduced from the original plate after its initial issue. Della Bella’s prints were widely circulated in the 17th century, and this work exemplifies his extensive catalogue of over a thousand images covering military, landscape, and genre subjects.
Context
During the mid‑17th century, Italian printmakers frequently depicted genre scenes that combined everyday life with subtle social observation. Della Bella’s inclusion of a black figure reflects the period’s growing, though limited, awareness of racial diversity within European visual culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Stefano della Bella (18 May 1610 – 12 July 1664) was an Italian draughtsman and printmaker known for etchings of a great variety of subjects, including military and court scenes, landscapes, and lively genre scenes.
![The Flight into Egypt [verso], by Stefano Della Bella](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/stefano-della-bella--the-flight-into-egypt-verso--3a100db72e6d25e3-w320.webp)
