Reverse Copy of Design for a Pendant, from Ars His Myronis Nobilis Effingitus Pagellulis
ca. 1600
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 5 1/2 × 3 5/8 in. (13.9 × 9.2 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1923
Accession Number
23.88.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate engraving by Paul Birenhultz, created around1600, offers a fascinating glimpse the world of Renaissance jewelry. Titled a reverse copy of a pendant design, the small print—measuring just 5½ by 3⅝ inches—showcases ornamental motifs, including lively squirrels, intended as inspiration for goldsmiths and jewelers. As part of the series *Ars His Myronis Nobilis Effingitus Pagellulis*, it belongs to the Metropolitan’s collection of prints and drawings focused on ornament and architecture. Engravings like this played a vital role in disseminating artistic ideas across Europe during th...