Horizontal Panel with a Row of Flowers Above a Frieze with a Battle Scene in a Landscape, from Livre Nouveau de Fleurs Tres-Util

Art Historical Context

This delicate etching, *Horizontal Panel with a Row Flowers Above a Frieze a Battle Scene in a*, comes from the *Livre Nouveau de F Tres-Util* (New Book of Very Useful), published in 1645 by artists Nicolas Cochin and Balthazar Moncor. At just 3 1/8 × 4 1/2 inches, this tiny horizontal panel masterfully layers a vibrant row of blooming flowers and leaves atop a dynamic frieze depicting a battle amid a rugged landscape, complete with charging horses and human figures. Cochin's designs, rendered by Moncornet's skilled hand, exemplify the ornamental print tradition of the French Baroque era. Cra...