Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Marsias (Marsias apud nobile quende)
16th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 16 5/8 x 13 1/8 in. (42.3 x 33.3 cm) plate: 4 15/16 x 3 1/8 in. (12.5 x 8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941
Accession Number
41.72(2.158)
Tags
About this artwork
"Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Marsias (Marsias apud nobile quende)" by Anonymous|Philippe Thomassin|Antonio Lafreri, created in 16th century, is executed in engraving. This prints belongs to the Metropolitan Museum's Drawings and Prints collection. The work measures sheet: 16 5/8 x 13 1/8 in. (42.3 x 33.3 cm) plate: 4 15/16 x 3 1/8 in. (12.5 x 8 cm). The artwork entered the museum's collection through harris brisbane dick fund, 1941.
Art Historical Context
Step into the Renaissance fascination with ancient Rome through this exquisite 16th-century engraving from the *Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae* ("Mirror of Roman Magnificence a celebrated anthology compiled by publisher Antonio Lafreri. Often featuring works by engravers like Philippe Thomassin this print captures *Marsias (Marsias apud nobile quende)*, depicting the mythological satyr Marsyas—a figure from classical lore known for his ill-fated musical contest with Apollo. Rendered in fine engraving on a modest plate (4 15/16 x 3 1/8 in.), it exemplifies the era's meticulous technique, where...
About the Artist
Anonymous|Philippe Thomassin|Antonio Lafreri
In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...