A child and a satyr child playing with a goat 1652 - 1662

Stefano della Bella created this etching of children playing with a goat in the mid-17th century. The print depicts a bucolic scene, common in European art of this period. But how are we to interpret such an image today? The children are rendered as cherubic figures, recalling classical depictions of putti. These figures are not merely decorative; they evoke a sense of innocence, harmony, and a connection to nature. Della Bella was working in Florence, Italy, a city whose artistic institutions, fostered by the Medici family, looked back to idealized visions of antiquity. Consider, then, the social role of such imagery. It served as a form of escapism for an elite, conjuring a world far removed from the realities of urban life. As historians, we might research the printmaking trade of the time, the artist's patrons, and the circulation of such images. By understanding the social and institutional context, we gain a richer appreciation of the artwork's meaning and relevance.