1648
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Two Leopards Jumping a Festoon Supported by Children is a 1648 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, depicting Putti, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows two leopards mid-leap over a garland held up by two small kids. The leopards look wild and the kids calm, which is oddly funny. It’s a trick print—etching means the artist carves a metal plate, covers it in ink, then presses paper on top. Drypoint is used here too; that’s when the artist scratches lines straight into the plate for darker, fuzzy edges. Try looking up the etching technique next.
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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