Grotesques Designs with Various Inscriptions (recto); Candelabra Grotesque and Two Putti Holding Flowers (verso)

Art Historical Context

Created around 1545–60 by artist Andrés de Melgar *Grotesques Designs with Inscriptions (recto); Candelabra Grotesque Two Putti Holding Flowersverso)* showcases the whimsical ornamental style that captivated Renaissance Europe. On the recto, intricate pen and dark gray-brown ink sketches blend mythical creatures, musical instruments, decorative motifs, interspersed with inscriptions on off-white paper. The verso a lively candelabra grotesque—those fantastical, intertwined forms inspired by ancient Roman frescoes—rendered in brown ink over black chalk underdrawing, with playful putti (cherubic figures) clutching flowers. Notably, the putti and shells below are pricked, a technique used to transfer designs onto walls or panels via pouncing with charcoal dust. Grotesques like these exploded in popularity during the 16th century, influencing architecture, prints, and decorative arts from Italy to Spain. Melgar, active in Rome, drew from this vogue, evident in the sheet's classification as Ornament & Architecture. The dual-sided composition and precise ink work highlight its role as a pattern sheet for artisans, bridging drawing and craft. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection since 1952, this 13¼ x 9 in. gem invites visitors to appreciate how such fantastical designs adorned palaces and churches, blending myth, music, and exuberant fantasy into enduring visual delight.