Design for a Pendant with a Winged Sea-Monster Carrying Venus Anadyomene on a Shell and a Man with an Oar
Medium
engraving
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.2808
Art Historical Context
In the late Renaissance era, Hans Collaert Elder, a prolific Flemish engraver active in Antwerp, created this intricate *Design for a Pendant with a Winged Sea-Monster Carrying Venus Anadyomene on a Shell and a with an Oar* in 1582. This finely detailed engraving captures a whimsical mythological scene: the goddess Venus, born from the sea (Anadyomene), rides a scallop shell borne by a fantastical winged sea-monster, accompanied by a muscular oar-wielding man—evoking tales from classical antiquity reimagined with Mannerist flair. Engravings like this one were vital in the 16th century for dis...