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The image depicts an etching of a person from the waist up, situated slightly to the right, with their head turned towards the viewer. The person's facial features are intricately detailed, with a strong gaze and a neutral expression. They wear a headwrap that partially covers their hair, with some strands visible at the front and sides. The individual is clad in a sleeveless garment and draped with a fur over their shoulders. An earring is visible on their left ear. The horse next to them is shown with a detailed bridle, embellished with feathers on its head. The background is a simple oval-shaped field that frames the subjects with no additional details.
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The image depicts an etching of a person from the waist up, situated slightly to the right, with their head turned towards the viewer. The person's facial features are intricately detailed, with a strong gaze and a neutral expression. They wear a headwrap that partially covers their hair, with some strands visible at the front and sides. The individual is clad in a sleeveless garment and draped with a fur over their shoulders. An earring is visible on their left ear. The horse next to them is shown with a detailed bridle, embellished with feathers on its head. The background is a simple oval-shaped field that frames the subjects with no additional details.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Black Groom with an Arabian Horse

Stefano Della Bella

Date
1649/1650
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
plate (oval): 10 x 7.4 cm (3 15/16 x 2 15/16 in.) sheet: 10.8 x 8.2 cm (4 1/4 x 3 1/4 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1994.72.12
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1601 to 1650
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Portfolio and series

Series
Heads in the Persian Style (Oriental Heads) [De Vesme 181-192]

Subjects and terms

  • Florentine
  • etching
  • occupation
  • genre
  • male
  • figure
  • mammal
  • animal
  • Horse
  • Costume study
  • Groom
Provenance

(Paul McCarron, New York); purchased 1994 by NGA.

Inscription

by later hand, lower center in graphite within plate mark: 50; by later hand, lower right in graphite: 172; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: 12

NGA object ID 90601. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.