Frieze with Sea Monsters
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 5/8 × 7 13/16 in. (4.2 × 19.9 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Harry G. Friedman, 1957
Accession Number
57.658.13(2)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created around 1580–1600, *Frieze with Sea Monsters* is a delicate engraving that captures the playful yet fantastical spirit of late Renaissance ornament. Attributed to Johann Theodor de Bry and Giovanni Andrea Maglioli, the print depicts a lively procession of mythical sea creatures intertwined with putti, or cherubic figures, in a continuous horizontal design. Measuring just over seven inches wide, its compact format suggests it was intended as a decorative model for artists, architects, or craftsmen to adapt in metalwork, furniture, or architectural details. Engravings like this played a ...
About the Artist
Johann Theodor de Bry|Giovanni Andrea Maglioli · 1561–1923
Comment on works: copper engraver