Vase (Plate 5 of a Series)
Classification
ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of E.F. Caldwell & Co.
Accession Number
1963-9-244
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Enea Vico, a Italian engraver active during the Renaissance (15231567), created this exquisite *Vase (Plate 5 of a Series)* in1543. Working primarily in Mantua and Rome Vico was renowned for his intricate ornamental prints, which bridged fine art and design. This piece, part of a larger series depicting elaborate vases, exemplifies the Mannerist style's elegant grotesques and scrolling motifs, inspired by classical antiquity and the decorative fantasies of artists like Rosso Fiorentino. Though the medium remains under study, Vico's works were typically fine-line engravings on copper plates, a...