A Nun and a Friar, from Das Bossenbüchlein
ca. 1582
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 3/8 × 3 5/16 in. (6 × 8.4 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1955
Accession Number
55.503.18(5)
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 16th century, the Renaissance era in Europe, pattern books like *Das Bossüchlein* ( Book of Embossings) served as essential guides for artisans, goldsmiths, and engr. Created around 1582 by Mathais Beitler and Stephan, *A Nun and a Fri* is a delicate engraving from this rare publication, measuring just 2 3/8 × 3 5/16 inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it exemplifies the intricate ornamental prints classified under Ornament & Architecture. This tiny yet precise work captures a nun and friar in profile, likely as models for decorative ...