Studies for birds and grotesque masks (recto); candelabra grotesques, ewers and vases (verso)
ca. 1545–60
Medium
Pen and brown ink
Dimensions
8-13/16 x 13-3/16 in. (22.4 x 33.5 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1952
Accession Number
52.570.317
Tags
Art Historical Context
This double-sided drawing by Spanish artist Andrés de Melgar dated around 1545–60, offers a captivating glimpse into Renaissance ornamental design. On the recto, delicate studies of birds and grotesque masks intertwine in fantastical forms, while the verso bursts with candelabra grotesques, ewers, and vases—elegant motifs for architecture and decorative arts. Rendered in pen and brown on a sheet measuring 8⅞ × 13¼ inches, the work showcases Melgar's precise linework, blending natural observation with imaginative whimsy. Grotesques, revived from ancient Roman decorations unearthed in the 15th ...