Plate 11: dogs, from 'Various animals' (Diversi animali) 1636 - 1646

Stefano della Bella made this etching of dogs in Italy in the mid-17th century. As a print, this image was made for distribution and display in albums. The image is part of a series called 'Various Animals,' which gives us a clue to its purpose. During this period, the rise of scientific inquiry created a demand for the accurate depiction of flora and fauna, so della Bella’s prints of animals reflect that trend. But, these prints also demonstrate the hierarchies that existed at the time. Note that the dogs are in a rural setting, with a building in the background, and the animals are of different breeds. The standing dog is perhaps a hunting dog, whereas the other two are pastoral. The artist's detailed attention to the dogs’ anatomy and his rendering of the scene invites us to consider how natural history studies were conducted. This involved the classification and comparison of specimens, something we can research in period publications. These books and prints reveal much about the social and institutional context of this image.