Artwork
Three Lion Heads
Three Lion Heads is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Three Lion Heads is an etching created by Stefano della Bella around 1649. The work showcases the artist's skill in printmaking and contributes to the Italian Baroque tradition of graphic art.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts three lion heads drawn in varying sizes, with the largest head shown roaring. The use of swirling strokes to render fur gives the image a textured, dynamic quality.
Technique & Style
Della Bella employed a technique that allowed ink to fill the etched lines, creating a fuzzy, lifelike effect. This style was characteristic of 17th-century animal studies, capturing the texture and movement of the subjects.
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)
