Plate 2: a soldier seated to left beneath an archway, another lying on the ground to right alongside military equipment, from 'Troops, cannons, and attacks on towns' (Dessins de quelques conduites de troupes, canons, et ataques de villes) 1635 - 1645

"Plate 2: a soldier seated to left beneath an archway, another lying on the ground to right alongside military equipment" is an etching by Italian artist Stefano della Bella (1610-1664). Created between 1635 and 1645, this print depicts a scene of military life, with soldiers resting under an archway, surrounded by cannons and other equipment. The composition is dynamic, with a sense of depth and movement created through the use of foreshortening and the arrangement of figures and objects. The etching is characteristic of della Bella's style, which is characterized by its precision and attention to detail, as well as its expressive use of line. This etching is part of a series titled "Troops, cannons, and attacks on towns," which showcases della Bella's skill in depicting military scenes with a strong emphasis on realism. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY, houses this artwork, which is measured at 2 7/16 x 4 15/16 in. (6.2 x 12.5 cm).