Artwork
Two Eagles on a Promitory
Two Eagles on a Promitory 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
Two Eagles on a Promontory is a 1637 etching on laid paper by Stefano della Bella, an Italian artist renowned for his prolific output in printmaking and drawing.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts two eagles perched on a rocky outcrop, one facing left with slightly spread wings and the other looking upward from behind. The scene conveys naturalistic detail within a genre framework.
Technique & Style
Della Bella employed precise, dark lines to achieve textured renderings of feathers and rocks. The work utilizes layered line techniques to build shadows and detail, characteristic of Baroque printmaking's emphasis on drama and depth.
History & Provenance
Originally created in 1637, the existing piece is a restrike, indicating it was printed from the original plate at a later time. Stefano della Bella's oeuvre includes over 1,000 etchings and numerous drawings, with only one known painting.
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)
