1637
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dwarf Riding an Ass is a 1637 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a small, hunched figure riding a donkey while two other tiny people walk beside it. The rider wears a fancy hat with feathers and a loose robe, holding a cane. The two walkers carry sticks and look up at the rider, dressed in simple striped shirts and hats. The donkey’s exaggerated size makes the scene look silly and exaggerated. The artist used sharp lines to show the characters’ movements and expressions clearly. If you like this style, check out etching to see how artists create prints like this.
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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