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Leopard. From the "Various Animals" Series, Plate 9

Stefano della Bella

Basic information

ID: Г-IV-957
Author: Stefano della Bella
Name: Leopard. From the "Various Animals" Series, Plate 9
Country: France
Technique: etching
Material: paper on cardboard
Dimensions: 8.4 x 10.6 cm (height x width)

Additionally

Type: graphic art
Genre: animal painting
Provenance: Received from the Lviv Historical Museum, 1954

Information about author

Author: Stefano della Bella
Author in the original: Stefano della Bella
Artist's lifetime: 1610–1644
Country: Italy
Biography: Stefano della Bella (Italian: Stefano della Bella; 1610, Florence – 1664, ibid.). A prominent Italian artist, engraver and etcher of the Early Baroque period, Stefano della Bella was one of the most prolific European printmakers of the 17th century. Following the untimely death of his father, the youth began training in a goldsmith's workshop. Around 1623, he moved to the workshop of the engraver Orazio Vanni, where he mastered the basic techniques of printmaking. Later, he refined his etching technique in the workshop of Remigio Cantagallina – the mentor of the famous French master Jacques Callot. Copying Callot's works significantly influenced the formation of della Bella's own refined artistic style.
During this same period, the artist secured the patronage of the Medici family, who supported him throughout his life. In 1633–1639, funded by his primary patron, Prince Lorenzo de' Medici (uncle of Ferdinand de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany), the artist lived and studied in Rome. There, he immediately received major commissions and made numerous sketches of park ensembles, villas, palaces and ancient ruins, which he later incorporated into his engravings.In Rome, della Bella met the French printmakers Israel Henriet and François Langlois, thanks to whom he moved to Paris in 1639. In France, the artist quickly achieved immense popularity, establishing close and successful collaborations with them, as well as with the leading Parisian publisher Pierre Mariette. His etchings were in high demand among European collectors. In 1650, due to anti-Italian unrest in France (the Fronde), the engraver returned to his native Florence. During this late period, he significantly diversified his favourite themes, creating a series of hunting scenes, landscapes with Roman ruins and detailed depictions of horsemen.
Over his lifetime, Stefano della Bella created more than a thousand unique etchings and thousands of drawings. He worked across battle, landscape, animal, ornamental and genre scenes, capturing the events of his time with documentary precision – from the lavish theatrical pageants of the Florentine nobility to the harsh realities of the Thirty Years' War and the everyday street life of European cities. He became famous for his jewelry-fine, filigree-detailed miniature works.

Object description

In the foreground, a large predator – a leopard – is depicted in profile. The animal is shown in motion, stepping to the right and smoothly shifting its body weight. With his characteristic refinement, the artist conveys the plasticity of the big cat. The long tail, playfully curled into a spiral at the tip, adds a decorative rhythm and dynamism to the composition. The animal's body is densely covered with characteristic small spots. The texture of the fur is meticulously rendered with the delicate strokes of an etching needle. The figure of the leopard is set within a minimalist landscape. Beneath its paws is a low ground line with sparse grass. In the background are the silhouettes of short trees, hills, and the faint contours of clouds in the sky. The low horizon emphasises the monumentality of the animal's figure, which dominates the space.
Stefano della Bella is renowned for his ability to accurately render the anatomy, plasticity, and character of animals. He acquired this skill by observing them from life, particularly within royal menageries (ménageries) – palatial collections of exotic animals.
The series was executed during the artist's stay in Paris and was published by Pierre Mariette.

Inscriptions

At the bottom of the print on the left: "9" (the plate number). Further to the right: "Stef. della Bella fecit", in the centre and on the right: "Cum priuilegio Mariette exc." – [Published by Mariette, with privilege]. Pencil marks on the backing cardboard at the bottom: "2617", "103", and the gallery inventory number: "№ Г-IV-957".

Legal regulation

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery

Leopard. From the "Various Animals" Series, Plate 9

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