Twenty-four Cavaliers Form a Double S 1652

Stefano della Bella’s “Twenty-four Cavaliers Form a Double S” is a detailed pen and ink drawing of a formation of 24 horsemen. The piece showcases della Bella’s skill as a draftsman through its precise and energetic depiction of the cavalrymen as they form a double “S” shape, echoing the Baroque style of the 17th century. This piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, was made in 1652, just a few years before the Italian artist’s death.