Two Camel Heads [recto]

probably 1649

Stefano Della Bella

Associated Names
Stefano Della Bella

Artist, Florentine, 1610 - 1664

The image shows a drawing of two camel heads facing in different directions. The bodies are not shown, only the necks and heads. Both camels are in profile views, looking slightly upwards. They have textured fur, large eyes, rounded noses, and visible harnesses across their noses. The drawing is done in a sketch style with detailed line work. The background is a light, neutral-toned sketch pad with subtle shading and line work.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching with revisions in black chalk and brown wash on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Andrew W. Mellon Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 11.6 x 14.8 cm (4 9/16 x 5 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1977.15.1.a

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    De Vesme/Massar 1971, no. 727

  • Series Title

    Heads of Different Animals [Vesme 726-729]

Associated Artworks

This is a drawing of a group with a donkey. The drawing features quick and expressive lines. On the right side, there's a figure seated on a donkey, and another figure is walking beside the animal. The scene suggests movement and interaction. The drawing has a loose, sketchy quality, focusing on capturing the essence and motion rather than details. The background is minimal, emphasizing the figures and their dynamic poses.

The Flight into Egypt [verso]

Stefano Della Bella

1610

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Thomas Tomkins (1743 - 1816). (sale, Mr. Hickman's Gallery, London, 25-28 February 1818, no. 289). Robert Stayner Holford [1808-1892]; his son, Sir George Lindsay Holford, K.V.O.C. [1860-1926]; (his sale, Sotheby's London, 22 May 1928, no. 29B. (Spencer Drummond Ltd.); NGA purchase in 1977

Associated Names

Bibliography

1906

  • Vesme, Alexandre de (Baudi di Vesme, Alessandro). Le peintre-graveur italien; ouvrage faisant suite au peintre-graveur de Bartsch. Milan: Ulrico Hoepli, 1906, no. 727.

1971

  • De Vesme, Alexandre, Phyllis Dearborn Massar.Stefano Della Bella. New York, 1971: no. 727.

2001

  • Talbierska, Jolanta.AKWAFORTY ZE ZBIOROW GABINETU RYCIN BIBLIOTEKI UNIWERSYTECKIEJ W WARSZAWIE / Etchings from the Collection of the Print Room of the Warsaw University Library. Warsaw, 2001: no. II. 26.

Inscriptions

none

Markings

none

Watermarks

Circle and crown

Wikidata ID

Q65577901

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