Series of Cartouches, in: Targhe ed altri ornati di varie e capricciose invenzioni (Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 49)
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
2014.99.49
Tags
Art Historical Context
Cornelis Bos, a prominent Flemish engraver active in mid-16th century created this enchanting *Series of Cartouches* 1545–60 as part of his album *Targhe ed ornati di varie eciose invenzioni (Cartouches and other of various and capricious), page 49. Rendered in meticulous engraving on a modest sheet measuring about 8 × 10 inches, this print exemplifies the Renaissance fascination with elaborate decorative motifs. Bos, influenced by Italian masters like Parmigianino, in reproductive prints that disseminated innovative designs across Europe. Engraving's fine lines allowed Bos to craft intricate...
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...