Artwork
Two Eagles with Tower in Background
Two Eagles with Tower in Background is an ink print by the Baroque artist Stefano Della Bella. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Della Bella’s work is noted for its prolific output, encompassing more than a thousand etchings and numerous drawings across a range of subjects.
Created in 1637, this print is an etching on laid paper by the Florentine artist Stefano della Bella (1610–1664). The composition centers on two eagles perched on a slender branch, with a modest tower rising behind them against a lightly suggested landscape. Della Bella’s work is noted for its prolific output, encompassing more than a thousand etchings and numerous drawings across a range of subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a pair of eagles, rendered with meticulous attention to feather and claw, positioned before a simple tower that hints at a fortified setting. While the print does not include explicit narrative, the juxtaposition of powerful birds and a defensive structure may allude to themes of strength, vigilance, or heraldic symbolism common in 17th‑century visual culture.
Technique & Style
Executed with the etching process, della Bella employed fine, intersecting lines to model the eagles’ plumage, creating a crisp, tactile surface. The background is rendered in a looser, sketch‑like manner, allowing the birds to dominate the visual field. The use of laid paper adds a subtle texture that enhances the contrast between the detailed foreground and the more gestural landscape.
History & Provenance
The work is a restrike, meaning it was printed from the original plate after the artist’s lifetime, a common practice for popular images in the Baroque period. Della Bella’s prints circulated widely in Italy and beyond, contributing to his reputation as one of the most productive etchers of the 17th century. The specific ownership trail of this impression is not documented in the available sources.
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Artist & collection
Artist
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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