A horseman and a lady riding side saddle, galloping towards the right, another horseman follows, in an elaborate frame decorated with a mask of a young woman, cherubs, and fruit 1652 - 1657

Curator: Good morning. Before us, we have a captivating print by Stefano della Bella, dating back to the mid-17th century, sometime between 1652 and 1657. It's called "A horseman and a lady riding side saddle, galloping towards the right, another horseman follows, in an elaborate frame decorated with a mask of a young woman, cherubs, and fruit." Quite a mouthful! Editor: That title really prepares you for the, shall we say, abundance of detail! My first impression? Exuberant. It's bursting with energy and a very particular kind of showy confidence, like a Baroque parade just waiting to happen. Curator: Exactly! Della Bella was a master of capturing that Baroque spirit. He was deeply immersed in the political theater of his time, working for powerful patrons, witnessing courtly life and diplomatic ceremonies. He understood that images, prints particularly, played a significant role in circulating ideas about power. Editor: It’s all so carefully rendered. Even the horses seem to understand the importance of their role. And that frame—goodness, the cherubs! The fruit! It's almost like the central scene is a jewel nestled in a really ornate box. Does the frame itself say something about the subjects, about their importance? Curator: I think you've hit upon something important there. The elaborate frame serves as a proscenium, almost theatrical, highlighting the prestige of the equestrian figures depicted. The woman riding sidesaddle suggests noble status and refined elegance, of course. And notice the following rider, and the fortress in the background? Perhaps an allegory of power or safe return to home soil? Editor: Safe return indeed. To me, there is an aspect of pure fantasy about it. Those clouds above the riders are more dramatic stage-setting than landscape. Curator: Possibly! Della Bella expertly manipulates line and tone, even in the figures themselves, to bring about this quality. His skillful engraving elevates an earthly activity to another level, don't you agree? He knew well that these engravings, more accessible than oil paintings, could widely disseminate notions of aristocratic virtue and power, ideas that circulated quickly. Editor: I am fascinated how even what might seem to us purely ornamental actually fulfills a function in promoting political spectacle. And now that you have highlighted it, I can notice how theatrical all elements have become to showcase their glory. This show-off element is fascinating to observe from today. Curator: The past speaking to us in visual language! Editor: Absolutely. It's like the whole composition whispers: "Behold!" And we can´t help but to marvel at it!