Plate 2: Design for a Frieze with Felines holding up a Garland and the Medici Coat of Arms in the Center, Plate 2 from: 'Decorative friezes and foliage' (Ornamenti di fregi e fogliami) 1645 - 1650

Stefano della Bella created this etching, 'Design for a Frieze with Felines holding up a Garland and the Medici Coat of Arms in the Center,' as part of a series of decorative friezes. Born in Florence, della Bella spent much of his career in the service of the Medici family, powerful patrons of the arts and rulers of Florence. It comes as no surprise then, that this print features the Medici coat of arms. While seemingly decorative, heraldry communicated power in the 17th century. The feline figures bear the weight of this symbolism, rendered here with a certain softness that tempers the visual assertion of dynastic authority. The garland, overflowing with foliage, adds another layer, perhaps reflecting the Medici's patronage of gardens and their cultivation of a refined image. This print operates as a visual representation of power, tempered by beauty and natural imagery.