Design for A Sleigh in the Form of a Griffin, Drawn by a Horse. 1610 - 1664

Stefano della Bella made this pen and brown ink drawing, "Design for A Sleigh in the Form of a Griffin, Drawn by a Horse," in the 17th century. During this time, the Medici family ruled Florence, and courtly life was marked by elaborate festivals and processions. Della Bella, who was employed by the Medici, was known for his detailed engravings and drawings of these events. This drawing visualizes the spectacle of power. The griffin sleigh is itself a mythical creature of strength and vigilance, and the horse is rendered as a muscular symbol of labor. Who would have been in this sleigh? What kind of person gets driven around in a griffin? The artist's delicate lines and attention to detail evoke the ephemeral nature of these displays. The drawing transforms the powerful into pure fantasy. It's a reminder of how fleeting even the most grandiose displays of authority can be, and how they ultimately exist in the realm of imagination.