Within the confines of ornamental designs, artists turned elements from nature into otherworldly beings. Creatures, fearsome or playful, graceful or rigid, take their place in dense and sinuous designs for locks, ewers, rings, tapestries, stained glass, and more. These intimately scaled works, often measuring just a few inches, are at times erotically charged and at others moralizing. Centuries later, these drawings and prints open a window to the imagination of artists and designers as the Age of Exploration unfolded around them.
Print, Plate from a Series of Designs for Ewers and Vessels, 1548; Cornelis Floris II (Flemish, ca. 1513-1575); Published by Hieronymus Cock (Netherlandish, ca. 1510-1570); Engravings on paper; Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John Innes Kane; 1946-3-3
Print, Plate 16, from Livre de bijouterie (Book of Designs for Goldsmiths and Jewelers), ca. 1570; Engraved by René Boyvin (French, ca. 1525-1625) possibly after Leonard Thiry (Flemish, active 1536 d. 1560) or Rosso Fiorentino (Italian, 1494-1540); Published by Paul de la Houve (French, active 17th century); Engraving on paper; Museum purchase through gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt; 1956-23-6-16
