Disegni Varij di Polifilo Zancarli (Friezes)
Medium
etching
Dimensions
Plate: 5 1/16 x 17 1/2 in. (12.8 x 44.5 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.20.13(1)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created around 1625, *Disegni Varij di Polifilo Zancarli (Friezes)* is an etching that showcases the inventive ornamental designs of Polifilo Giancarli, realized through the skilled hand of Odoardo Fialetti. This print belongs to a tradition of architectural ornament, offering elegant frieze patterns that could serve as models for decorators, silversmiths, and architects. Rendered in the fluid lines of etching—a medium prized in the seventeenth century for its ability to capture intricate detail—the work reflects the period’s fascination with elaborate, imaginative motifs. The composition weaves together lively elements such as bears, mythical creatures, and ornate cartouches, blending natural observation with fantastical invention. These designs exemplify the Baroque taste for dynamic, layered decoration that enlivened palaces and objects across Europe. As part of the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of prints and drawings, this sheet preserves a valuable record of how ornamental ideas circulated among artists and craftsmen, inspiring the rich visual language of the early modern era.
About the Artist
Polifilo Giancarli|Odoardo Fialetti (Italian|Italian) · 1600 |1573 –1625 |1638
active in Venice ca. 1600–1625|Italian, Bologna 1573–1637/38 Venice