Vase with Two Winged Figures Draping a Term

Art Historical Context

This exquisite engraving, *Vase with Two Wing Figures Draping a*, captures the fanciful spirit of late 17th-century ornamental. Measuring a compact 7 1/2 x 4 7/16 inches (19.1 x .3 cm), it depicts an elaborate vase adorned with ethereal winged figures gracefully draping a classical term—a sculpted pillar topped with a bust, blending human and mythical forms in a Mannerist style. Produced as a print in the Prints department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it reflects the era's fascination with Renaissance grotesques revived for Baroque audiences. The artwork draws from a collaborative lineage of masters: designs likely inspired by 16th-century innovators Polidoro da Caravaggio and Rosso Fiorentino, with engravings attributed to René Boyvin and Claes Jansz. Visscher, and publication by Frederick de Wit. Engraving, a precise intaglio technique, allowed for intricate line work that disseminated these decorative motifs to architects, silversmiths, and artisans across Europe. Classified under Ornament & Architecture, it exemplifies how such prints served as pattern books, fueling the opulent decorative arts of the time. Bequeathed to the Met in 2011 by Phyllis Massar, this piece invites us to appreciate the enduring allure of vases as vessels of imagination—symbols of abundance and fantasy in art history.

About the Artist

Frederick de Wit|René Boyvin|Polidoro da Caravaggio|Rosso Fiorentino|Claes Jansz. Visscher (Netherlandish|Dutch) · 1571 |1629 –1656 |1706

Netherlandish, Antwerp 1571–1656 Rotterdam|Dutch, 1629/30–1706