Griffins and Two Cupids Crossing Halberds, plate five of Twelve Ornament Panels
c. 1505–15
Medium
Engraving in black on grayish ivory laid paper
Dimensions
53.4 × 8.6 cm (21 1/16 × 3 7/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23432
Art Historical Context
Step into the whimsical world of Renaissance ornamentation with *Griffins and Two Cup Crossing Halberds*, plate five from Giovanni Antonio da Brescia's * Ornament Panels* (c. 1505–15). This slender engraving, measuring 53.4 × 8.6 cm, captures mythical griffins—fierce guardians with eagle heads and lion bodies—flanking playful cupids who clash halberds in a dynamic pose. Printed in black ink on grayish laid paper, its narrow format evokes decorative friezes or architectural panels, ideal for inspiring artisans in Milan and Venice during the High Renaissance. Da Brescia, a masterful Italian eng...