Artwork
Two Men in Masquerade Costumes: A Cannon Firing and a Cat Inside a Mousetrap
Two Men in Masquerade Costumes: A Cannon Firing and a Cat Inside a Mousetrap is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1645 by Stefano della Bella, this pen-and-ink drawing on laid paper captures two eccentric figures in theatrical attire.
Created around 1645 by Stefano della Bella, this pen-and-ink drawing on laid paper captures two eccentric figures in theatrical attire. Della Bella, a Florentine draftsman renowned for his prolific printmaking, rarely worked in paint, focusing instead on graphic media. The composition’s spontaneity and informal execution reflect his habit of sketching from imagination rather than direct observation, blending humor with visual wit.
Subject & Meaning
The scene pairs two absurd vignettes: one figure fires a cannon while another is ensnared in a net, a cat trapped inside a mousetrap beside him. Neither scenario follows logic or narrative convention; instead, the pairing suggests a visual pun or satirical riddle. The costumes imply masquerade, but the actions subvert their ceremonial purpose, hinting at the absurdity of social performance in Baroque court culture.
Technique & Style
Della Bella employed rapid, fluid strokes in light brown ink, allowing the paper’s texture to show through and enhancing the sketch’s immediacy. Lines are loose and unrefined, avoiding detail in favor of gesture and movement. The ink’s faintness and the paper’s roughness contribute to a sense of transience, as if the image were caught mid-thought rather than composed for display.
History & Provenance
The drawing survives as one of many unpublished sketches by della Bella, likely made for personal amusement or as preparatory studies for broader thematic projects. No early provenance is documented, but its survival among his extensive graphic oeuvre suggests it was preserved by collectors who valued his inventive draftsmanship over finished works.
Context
In mid-17th century Florence, masquerade and carnival imagery were popular in courtly entertainment, often used to critique social norms. Della Bella’s drawing aligns with a broader Baroque fascination with the grotesque and the whimsical, particularly in prints and drawings meant for private circulation rather than public display.
Legacy
Though never widely exhibited in its time, the drawing exemplifies della Bella’s role in elevating the sketch as an independent artistic expression. Its playful irreverence influenced later generations of draftsmen who valued wit and spontaneity over formal polish, cementing his reputation as a pioneer of graphic experimentation.
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.
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From "Bizzarie di varie Figure"
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From "Bizzarie di varie Figure"
From "Bizzarie di varie Figure"
From "Bizzarie di varie Figure"
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