Shield with Greyhound Held by Wild Man
1470–1491
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 3 1/16 × 3 1/16 in. (7.8 × 7.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1940
Accession Number
40.8.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate *Shield with Greyhound Held by Man*, a masterful engraving by Martin Schong, created between 1470 and 1491 This tiny gem, measuring just 3 1/16 × 3 1/16 inches, exemplifies the Northern Renaissance master's prowess in printmaking. Schongauer a pioneering German artist from Colmar, was among the first to elevate engraving to fine art, influencing later giants like Albrecht Dürer with his precise line work and rich tonal effects. At its heart, the composition depicts a heraldic shield gripped by a fierce wild man—a mythical figure symbolizing untamed strength and nobility—w...
About the Artist
Martin Schongauer · 1435–1491
Martin Schongauer, born around 1450–1453 in Colmar, Alsace, emerged from a family of skilled artisans. The third of four or five sons of goldsmith Caspar Schongauer, who had relocated from Augsburg to Colmar around 1440, Martin was immersed in the goldsmith's trade from youth, likely receiving his initial training in his father's workshop—a common path for early engravers. He further honed his ski...