Vase with a Sacrificial Scene
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 1/4 x 6 15/16 in. (26 x 17.6 cm) Plate: 7 7/16 x 4 7/16 in. (18.9 x 11.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.32
Tags
Art Historical Context
This enchanting 17th-century engraving *Vase with a Sacr Scene*, captures a fantastical ancient vessel brimming with Mannerist exuberance. Adorned with playful putti (chubby cherubs) and majestic bulls, the scene evokes classical rituals of sacrifice, blending mythological grandeur with decorative flair. Measuring a modest 10¼ × 6⅞ inches on its sheet, the print's intricate plate (7½ × 4½ inches) showcases the fine lines typical of engraving, a technique that allowed for precise detailing and multiple impressions, making art accessible beyond elite patrons. The artwork unites a stellar lineag...
About the Artist
Claes Jansz. Visscher|René Boyvin|Polidoro da Caravaggio|Rosso Fiorentino|Frederick de Wit · 1586–1652
Claes Jansz. Visscher, also known as Nicolas Joannis Visscher II or Joannis Piscator, was a prominent Dutch Golden Age draughtsman, engraver, mapmaker, and publisher born in Amsterdam in 1587 and died there on June 19, 1652. The son of the printmaker and publisher Jan Claesz. Visscher (c. 1550–1612), he learned the art of etching and printing from his father, helping to expand the family trade int...