Narcissus at the Source

About this artwork

Christoph Jamnitzer's "Narcissus at the Source" (circa 1600) represents German Renaissance goldsmithing at its most sophisticated, combining mythological narrative with virtuoso metalworking technique. Created in cast, chased, engraved, and gilded silver, this Nuremberg masterpiece (5 7/16 × 4 13/16 inches, 12.345 ounces) depicts the tragic Greek myth of Narcissus, who died gazing at his own reflection in a pool—a cautionary tale about vanity and self-love that resonated with Christian morality....

Art Historical Context

Christoph Jamnitzer’s “Narcissus at the Source,” created around 1600 in Nuremberg, captures the Greek myth of the youth who perished gazing at his own reflection. This small silver sculpture, measuring just over five inches across and weighing about twelve ounces, transforms a cautionary tale of vanity into a richly detailed object meant for close viewing. Jamnitzer, part of a celebrated family of goldsmiths whose workshop had served European nobility for generations, combined narrative drama with technical brilliance in this cast, chased, engraved, and gilded piece. The work exemplifies German Renaissance metalwork at its finest. Complex casting allowed the artist to create a three-dimensional scene, while delicate chasing and engraving added texture and depth to every surface. Gilding provided both luminous color and lasting protection. Such virtuoso objects were prized in princely kunstkammers, where mythological subjects demonstrated classical learning alongside moral instruction. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum in 2021, the sculpture highlights Nuremberg’s role as a center of luxury craftsmanship and humanist culture at the turn of the seventeenth century.

About the Artist

Christoph Jamnitzer · 1563–1618

Comment on works: goldsmith; copper engraver