Artwork
Caprices: Two Goats
Caprices: Two Goats is a print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1642 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1642 by the Florentine artist Stefano della Bella, *Caprices: Two Goats* is an etching that belongs to a larger series of whimsical studies. The work depicts a pair of goats entangled on a craggy shoreline, observed by a solitary figure. It is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies della Bella’s prolific output of more than a thousand prints.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a fleeting, playful encounter between two goats, one upright with its head thrown back and the other draped over it. A lone onlooker stands at a distance, suggesting a narrative of casual observation. The scene emphasizes the spontaneity of animal behavior and the informal, almost anecdotal quality typical of capricious studies.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, the image relies on rapid, fluid lines that convey movement and the irregular angles of the figures. The loose handling of line and the emphasis on gesture reflect a Baroque interest in dynamism and immediacy, allowing the viewer to sense the momentary tension between the animals and the surrounding rocks and surf.
History & Provenance
Stefano della Bella produced the piece during a period when he was exploring a wide range of subjects, from military engagements to everyday genre scenes. After remaining in private hands for centuries, the etching entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century European prints.
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)
