ca. 1530s (Engraved)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This engraving is the title page for a set of prints by an anonymous Italian, from about 1530s. The text can be translated as ‘light and (as can be seen) extemporised pictures which are commonly called grotesques … which have been variously selected and faithfully and carefully reduced into one from many vaulted chambers and ancient walls’. This design is close to Roman examples, and this set of prints was republished and copied. Ornament prints like this were copied by artisans in different fields.
The theme of the grotesque was a popular one around this period. Grotesque derives from the Italian word grottesco. The style was inspired by ancient Roman designs discovered at the end of the 15th century in the underground rooms, or grottoes, of the Golden House of Emperor Nero in Rome. Grotesque ornament was used to decorate a wide range of objects, such as ceramics, and the style was much copied by Renaissance artists.
The theme of the grotesque was a popular one around this period. Grotesque derives from the Italian word grottesco. The style was inspired by ancient Roman designs discovered at the end of the 15th century in the underground rooms, or grottoes, of the Golden House of Emperor Nero in Rome. Grotesque ornament was used to decorate a wide range of objects, such as ceramics, and the style was much copied by Renaissance artists.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Engraving |
Brief description | Anonymous engraver. Leviores et (ut videtur) extemporaneae picturae quas grotteschas vulgo vocant. One from a set of 19 plates of grotesques. |
Physical description | Title page. Armoire. A large chest below which is a cartouche. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | Cartouche lettered:
LEVIORES. ET. (VT. VIDETVR). EXTEMPORANEAE. PICTVRAE. QVAS. GROTTESCHAS. VVLGO. VOCANT. QVIBVS. ROMANI. ILLI. ANTIQVI. AD. TRICLINIA. ALIAQ. SECRETIORIA. AEDIVM, LOCA. EXORNANDA. VTEBANTVR. EPLVRIB. CONCAMERATIONIB. PARIETIBVSQ. ANTIQVIS. VARIE DESVMPTAE. AC. SVMMA. FIDE. DILIGENTIAQ. IN. VNVM. REDACTAE.
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Production | Reversed copy plate of Enea Vico grotesque series from before 1541-42. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | This engraving is the title page for a set of prints by an anonymous Italian, from about 1530s. The text can be translated as ‘light and (as can be seen) extemporised pictures which are commonly called grotesques … which have been variously selected and faithfully and carefully reduced into one from many vaulted chambers and ancient walls’. This design is close to Roman examples, and this set of prints was republished and copied. Ornament prints like this were copied by artisans in different fields. The theme of the grotesque was a popular one around this period. Grotesque derives from the Italian word grottesco. The style was inspired by ancient Roman designs discovered at the end of the 15th century in the underground rooms, or grottoes, of the Golden House of Emperor Nero in Rome. Grotesque ornament was used to decorate a wide range of objects, such as ceramics, and the style was much copied by Renaissance artists. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 16770 |
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Record created | April 22, 2005 |
Record URL |
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