Designs with Sea Gods
Print
1590 - 1610 (made)
1590 - 1610 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This set of four designs by Adriaen Collaert (c.1560-1618) would have been used to decorate plates or spice bowls. Spice bowls were small dishes (around 30 cm.) used to present sweets at the end of a meal, and were usually made with gold or silver. The centre of each of Collaert’s designs shows a specific mythological figure associated with the sea. In each, a band around the central image shows fantastical scenes of sea monsters, mermen and nudes. Many of the surrounding figures emphasise the identity of the central figures. For example, Arion is surrounded by musicians while the border of the Venus plate shows lovers and young woman admiring herself in a mirror. Around the outer rim of each design is a different geometric design. If these images were ever implemented in the production of a dish, they would have been luxurious and fashionable objects.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Designs with Sea Gods (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | engraving |
| Brief description | after Adriaen Collaert (c.1560-1618); Basin or tazza bowl, late 16th century; engraving |
| Physical description | Square engraving with circular design showing a female nude, possibly Venus on a shell, about to be crowned by two cherubs; in the large band around the central design are fish, sea creatures and fanciful images of nudes; the two just below Venus' feet are about to be pierced by Eros' arrow |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | "Adrianus Collaert fecti. Phls Galle excudit" (bottom edge ) |
| Object history | Though the central scenes are from the Old Testament rather than Classical mythology, see the silver spice bowls in the Victoria and Alber collection (M.55C-1946) to get an idea of how the Collaert designs may have been realised. (F. Allitt) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This set of four designs by Adriaen Collaert (c.1560-1618) would have been used to decorate plates or spice bowls. Spice bowls were small dishes (around 30 cm.) used to present sweets at the end of a meal, and were usually made with gold or silver. The centre of each of Collaert’s designs shows a specific mythological figure associated with the sea. In each, a band around the central image shows fantastical scenes of sea monsters, mermen and nudes. Many of the surrounding figures emphasise the identity of the central figures. For example, Arion is surrounded by musicians while the border of the Venus plate shows lovers and young woman admiring herself in a mirror. Around the outer rim of each design is a different geometric design. If these images were ever implemented in the production of a dish, they would have been luxurious and fashionable objects. |
| Bibliographic reference | Hollstein, F.W.H., Ann Diels, Marjolein Leesberg, Arnout Balis, and Collaert. The new Hollstein Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700 The Collaert Dynasty / comp. by Ann Diels and Marjolein Leesberg; ed. by Marjolein Leesberg and Arnout Balis. The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, 1450-1700. Ouderkerk aan den IJssel: Sound & Vision Publishers, 2005.
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.6-1923 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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