Latin Cross with Birds and Smaller Motifs

Art Historical Context

Created around 1614–19 by Jacques Hurtu and engraver Pierre Firens I, this delicate print exemplifies the ornamental designs popular in early seventeenth Europe. Measuring just under four inches tall the sheet combines blackwork—a technique prized for its rich, velvety dark tones—with fine engraving to render a Latin surrounded by perched birds, fruit clusters, and smaller decorative motifs. Such prints often served as models for goldsmiths, embroiderers, or book illustrators, blending religious symbolism with the era’s fascination for natural detail. The composition places the cross at the c...