Series fof Cartouches, in: Targhe ed altri ornati di varie e capricciose invenzioni (Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 34)
ca. 1545–60
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 7 7/8 × 10 5/16 in. (20 × 26.2 cm) Plate: 5 1/8 × 11 13/16 in. (13 × 30 cm) Overall: 8 1/4 × 10 5/8 in. (21 × 27 cm)
Classification
Albums|Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Daniel Ergmann Gift, 2014
Accession Number
2014.99.34
Tags
Art Historical Context
Cornelis Bos, a prolific Netherlandish engraver in Antwerp during the mid-16th century, this enchanting plate from his album *The ed altri ornati di e capricciose invenzioni* (Cartouches and Other Ornaments of Various and Capric Invention), around 1545–60. This engraving showcases a series of ornate cartouches—decorative frames often shaped like scrolls or shields—adorned with whimsical faces and intricate motifs. Measuring about 8¼ × 10⅝ inches overall, the print exemplifies the Renaissance fascination with *grotesques*, fantastical designs inspired by ancient Roman decorations unearthed in t...
About the Artist
Cornelis Bos · 1510–1556
Cornelis Bos (c. 1506/10–before 1555), a Netherlandish engraver, printseller, and publisher born in 's-Hertogenbosch, emerged as a pivotal figure in the Antwerp print trade during the mid-16th century. His early life remains sparsely documented, with no records of formal training or mentors, though he was active in Antwerp by 1537, producing his earliest known engraving, *Prudence and Justice*, af...