Ornamental Engraving with Morris Dancers
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 4 3/4 × 10 9/16 in. (12 × 26.8 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry Walters, by exchange, 1931
Accession Number
31.31.28
Tags
Art Historical Context
Israhel van Meckenem a prolific German engraver active in the late 15 century, created this delightful *Ornamental Engr with Morris Dancers*date unknown), capturing the lively spirit of folk festivities. The print depicts a procession of Morris dancers—traditional English performers known for their rhythmic steps, bells, and colorful costumes—framed within an intricate ornamental border. Measuring just 4 3/4 × 10 9/16 inches, this small-scale work exemplifies the Northern European fascination with decorative motifs during the transition from Gothic to Renaissance art. As an engraving, the pie...
About the Artist
Israhel van Meckenem · 1435–1503
Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445–1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a pioneering German engraver and goldsmith based in Bocholt, near the Dutch border, renowned as the most prolific printmaker of the fifteenth century. Born into a family possibly of Dutch origin, he was the son of Israhel van Meckenem the Elder, a goldsmith who settled in Bocholt in 1457. He trained initially ...