Auricular Cartouche with Figures within a Strapwork Frame from Veederley Veranderinghe van grotissen ende Compertimenten. Libro Primo

Art Historical Context

This 1556 etching by Cornelis Floris II, engraved by the van Doetecum brothers, comes from the ornamental pattern book *Veelderley Veranderinghe van grotissen ende Compertimenten*. It showcases an elaborate auricular cartouche—characterized by soft, ear-like curves—framed by interlacing strapwork and inhabited by mythical creatures and snails. Created in Antwerp during the height of Northern Mannerism, the print exemplifies the inventive grotesque designs that Floris helped popularize across Northern Europe. These albums served as practical resources for goldsmiths, sculptors, and architects, allowing intricate motifs to circulate widely through the medium of etching. Floris’s distinctive blend of classical elements with fluid, organic forms influenced both architecture and the decorative arts, marking a shift toward more dynamic ornamentation in the mid-sixteenth century. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of prints and ornament, this sheet highlights how printed pattern books shaped Renaissance visual culture by making sophisticated designs accessible to craftsmen far beyond the artist’s studio.