Grammatica, from The Seven Liberal Arts
ca. 1570–1600
Medium
Engraving and etching
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 5 7/8 × 4 1/8 in. (14.9 × 10.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.95.1491
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving and etching, created around 1570–1600 by Flemish artist Maerten de Vos and printmaker Johann Sadeler I, belongs to a series illustrating the Seven Liberal Arts. Titled *Grammatica*, it personifies the foundational discipline of grammar, one of the core subjects taught in Renaissance education. The medium—combining precise engraving with etching—allowed for fine detail and wide distribution, making such allegorical images accessible beyond elite circles. In the late 16th century, the Liberal Arts represented the essential path to knowledge and eloquence during the Northern Renai...