A riding school, a horseman with sword jumping directed by another man with a sword in center, a man standing next to his horse to right, various horsemen, the school, and two dogs in the background, from 'Varie figure' 1640 - 1650

Stefano della Bella created this print of a riding school, part of his 'Varie figure' series, using etching techniques in the mid-17th century. The composition, a dance of lines and forms, presents a carefully staged scene of equestrian training. Notice the central dynamic: a horse and rider mid-jump, directed by a figure with a sword. Della Bella masterfully uses line to convey motion and depth, organizing the figures and architecture in a way that leads our eye through the space. The linearity, combined with the subtle tonal variations achieved through etching, creates a sense of airy openness, characteristic of Baroque sensibilities. What's intriguing here is how the work destabilizes the conventional power dynamics of equestrian art through its attention to the quotidian. The scene is not of triumphant conquest but of practice and instruction, suggesting a broader commentary on skill, learning, and the structures of power. Consider how the seemingly casual arrangement of figures hints at underlying social structures and the performance of status.