Rennende paarden 1620 - 1664

Curator: Here we have "Running Horses," a lively sketch created by Stefano della Bella, likely sometime between 1620 and 1664. It's a pen and ink drawing currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. My first impression? It's utterly whimsical! A cascade of horses captured in mid-gallop, a parade of energy in minimalist form. It almost feels like a spontaneous doodle found in a particularly talented artist's sketchbook. Editor: Whimsical indeed. It does feel intimate, almost private, doesn’t it? Like peeking into della Bella's creative process. You can imagine him, perhaps observing horses in a royal stable, quickly jotting down these fleeting moments of equestrian dynamism. The Rijksmuseum has a whole collection of similar drawings which could easily have been a sketch book or design book to be presented to some Royal family member. Curator: Absolutely. It's like a freeze-frame from some baroque equestrian ballet. Each horse seems to possess its own distinct personality, even with so few lines. Notice how the artist plays with perspective? The horses recede into the background, becoming lighter, more ethereal, suggesting infinite movement. And is that one little rebellious horse trying to break away from the pack near the end? Or am I just seeing stories in the sketchwork? Editor: (chuckles) Stories are what we bring to art, aren't they? Della Bella worked for the Medici family and even traveled to the Netherlands later in his career, it’s possible he sketched Dutch steeds here for their magnificent build, especially since horse breeding was considered fashionable amongst European Royalty. More practically, the efficiency of line is rather impressive. He conveys so much motion and muscularity with what seems like a few deft strokes. One has to think there’s a political economy to it as well, this lightness as perhaps designed with engravings for quick sales on the rise. Curator: I love how you brought in those connections! Yes, it shows not only an artistic skill, but speaks of practical skill—art with efficiency in mind. And yet, even knowing it may be part of a larger commission, you get a sense of the pleasure the artist took in observing and capturing the raw, untamed spirit of these animals. It also reminds us that the simplest drawings can hold an almost childlike fascination. We still respond to the grace of horses and freedom of their motion. Editor: And it makes us remember art is never divorced from social circumstance: even quick sketches like these held purposes, reflect the world of equestrian spectacle, and carry assumptions of economic exchange we might normally attribute to history paintings! It’s a good reminder for those interested in getting to know art and art history!