1652
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Twenty-Four Cavorting Cavaliers is a 1652 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows two rows of men riding horses in a loose line. They all wear tall hats with feathers and hold spears or swords. The horses are mid-movement, some rearing up or trotting, and the whole scene looks like a parade or drill. The artist used a sharp, precise line to show action without color. Notice how the horses’ legs blur slightly—this isn’t just a group, but a sense of motion. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this carved lines into metal plates.
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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