Decorated Roman alphabet
18th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 9 in. × 11 1/8 in. (22.8 × 28.2 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mrs. John D. Gordon Gift, in memory of William M. Ivins Jr., 1963
Accession Number
63.513.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 18th century, engraver Martin Engelbrecht Augsburg created this charming *Decorated Roman alphabet*, a fine example of his playful ornamental prints. Produced as an engraving on a modest 9 × 11-inch sheet, the work transforms classical Roman capital letters into whimsical vignettes, each letter embellished with lively motifs of animals, men, and insignia Engelbrecht, known for his popular series of grotesques and decorative designs, drew inspiration from Renaissance ornamentation and Baroque exuberance, blending typography with illustrative fantasy. Engraving's intaglio technique...