1648
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dolphins and Tritons is a 1648 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows two winged sea creatures tangled with two human-like figures. The creatures have fish tails, curled horns, and floppy hair, while the humans cling to them like they’re in trouble. Wavy lines at the bottom look like rough water, and the whole scene is drawn in sharp, dark lines. The artist used a technique called *etching*—where acid bites into metal plates to create the lines. This made the image crisp and detailed, even though it’s small. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how it works.
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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