Cartouche in the Form of a Flayed Tiger Supported by Centaurs

Executed as an etching, della Bella employed acid‑bitten lines on a copper plate to achieve a range of values, from deep shadows to delicate textures. The artist’s handling of line produces a sense of movement in the centaurs’ fur and musculature, while cross‑hatching conveys the roughness of the tiger skin within the circular frame.

Created in 1647, the print belongs to della Bella’s prolific output of more than a thousand works, which spanned military scenes, landscapes, and genre subjects. Although the artist is chiefly known for his prints, he left only a single documented painting, underscoring the importance of his graphic oeuvre for his reputation.

The work reflects the Baroque era’s taste for elaborate ornamental designs and the period’s growing interest in natural history and exotic fauna. By integrating mythic centaurs with a realistically rendered tiger hide, della Bella participates in a broader artistic dialogue that blended scientific observation with fantastical imagery.