1637
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Two Eagles, One Eating a Small Lamb is a 1637 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows two large eagles perched on a rocky shore. One eagle is hunched over a small, curled-up lamb, its sharp beak buried in the animal’s body. The other eagle stands nearby, watching. The background is mostly empty, with just a few wavy lines suggesting water. The artist used fine lines to show the eagles’ feathers in detail, making them look fierce and real. The lamb’s tiny body contrasts with the eagles’ size, making the scene feel dramatic. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints using acid and 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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