Plate 28, from Neüw GrotteÃken Buch (New Grotesque Book)
Medium
ornament
Classification
ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of the Estate of David Wolfe Bishop
Accession Number
1957-162-27
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Christoph Jamnitzer, a master goldsmith and engraver from Nuremberg, Germany (1563–1618), created *Plate 28* as part of his *Ne Grotteßken* (New Grotesque Book) in 1610. This ornamental print exemplifies the Jamnitzer family's legacy in Renaissance design, where intricate patterns served as essential guides for artisans crafting jewelry, metalwork, and decorative arts. As the grandson of the renowned goldsmith Wenzel Jamnitzer, Christoph blended Northern European precision with fantastical motifs, reflecting the Mannerist taste for elaborate, whimsical forms. Grotesques—playful, asymmetrical ...