1648
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Death Carrying a Child to the Left is a 1648 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a skeletal figure with a child in its arms, walking through a flooded town. Buildings with spires loom in the background, while people below look on. The water swirls around the figure’s legs, and a dog runs nearby. The scene looks like a warning about death’s power—even over kids. The artist used sharp lines to make everything feel urgent. Next, check out etching to see how this print was made.
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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