Who painted Soldier Holding a Fowl by the Feet?

Soldier Holding a Fowl by the Feet was painted by Stefano Della Bella in 1637.

Where can I see Soldier Holding a Fowl by the Feet?

Soldier Holding a Fowl by the Feet is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Soldier Holding a Fowl by the Feet?

Soldier Holding a Fowl by the Feet is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Soldier Holding a Fowl by the Feet

Stefano Della Bella , 1637

Soldier Holding a Fowl by the Feet is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1637, this print by Stefano della Bella depicts a small group of figures in a rural setting. Executed as an etching on laid paper, the composition centers on a soldier who balances a bird by its feet while a companion rides a pony and a third figure walks behind. The scene conveys a moment of quiet activity in an open landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents three men engaged in everyday tasks: one carries a fowl, another guides a horse, and the third follows, bent forward. The upside‑down bird, held like a bundle, suggests a practical, perhaps hunting‑related activity, while the relaxed posture of the figures hints at a brief pause in labor within a pastoral environment.

Technique & Style

Della Bella employed the etching process, incising lines into a metal plate that were then inked and pressed onto laid paper. The artist’s handling of line creates texture in the clothing folds and the horse’s coat, while cross‑hatching conveys depth and the subtle tonal variations characteristic of his graphic work.

History & Provenance

The print is a restrike, indicating it was produced from a later impression of the original plate. Stefano della Bella, a prolific Florentine draughtsman, left a substantial body of work exceeding a thousand prints, encompassing military, landscape, and genre subjects, of which this piece forms part of his extensive graphic legacy.

Artist & collection

Artist

Stefano Della Bella

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.