Targhe ed altri ornati di varie e capricciose invenzioni (Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 7)
Medium
Etching and 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
2014.99.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant etching and engraving from 177 captures the playful spirit of ornamental design in the late eighteenth century. Created by Jacob Floris and published by Carlo Losi, the print belongs to an album titled *Targhe ed altri ornati di varie e capricciose invenzioni*. Measuring roughly 13 by 30 centimeters on the plate, it exemplifies the period’s fascination with inventive cartouches—elaborate frames that blend architecture, sculpture, and fantasy. The composition showcases whimsical motifs, including expressive faces and graceful peacocks, arranged in dynamic, asymmetrical patterns ty...