Blackwork Design for Goldsmithwork with a Putto, Birds and Insects
1612
Medium
Engraving and blackwork
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 1/16 × 1 7/8 in. (5.2 × 4.7 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1931
Accession Number
31.32.43
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 17th century, German engraver Mathais Beitler created this delicate *Blackwork Design for Goldsmithwork with a Putto, Birds and Insects* in 1612. Measuring just over 2 inches square, this tiny engraving captures a whimsical scene of a chubby putto— a playful cherub figure popular in Renaissance and Baroque art— surrounded by birds and insects. Such ornamental designs were essential blueprints for skilled goldsmiths, guiding the intricate decoration of jewelry, vessels, and other luxury metalwork during Europe's opulent age of craftsmanship. The artwork's medium, engraving combine...