De Zot

About this artwork

hoogte 4,5 cm x breedte 7 cm x gewicht 24 gr

Art Historical Context

**De Zot by Peter Flötner (. 1525–c. 1550)** This charming small-scale lead sculpture, titled *De Zot* ("The Fool" in Dutch), the whimsical spirit of the Northern Renaissance. Created by Peter Flötner, a Nuremberg artist known for his intricate metalwork and grotesque figures, the piece measures just 4. cm high by 7 cm wide and a mere 24 grams. Flötner, active in the early 16th century, Italian Renaissance influences with the earthy humor of German craftsmanship, often depicting fools and jesters to satirize human folly. Crafted in lead—a durable yet affordable metal for casting detailed rel...

About the Artist

Peter Flötner · 1485–1546

Peter Flötner (c. 1485–1546) was a German sculptor, ornament designer, and medalist whose work played a central role in the transmission of Italian Renaissance decorative vocabulary into the German-speaking lands. Though his exact origins remain uncertain — he may have trained in Augsburg before settling permanently in Nuremberg around 1522 — his formation evidently included exposure to Italian Re...