Base of an ornamental cup
Original title: Base of an ornamental cup
kurzbeschreibung
Wenceslaus Hollar made this etching in 1645. It reproduces the foot of a richly ornamented decorative cup. The sheet measures 10.8 × 11.5 cm and is the second of two states.
Description
The layout is symmetrical. Three angels in lively poses appear along the top edge. Chains and pearls run below them, linking the upper zone to the lower one. Four upright lions and two seated dogs are arranged along the bottom. The etching remains black and white, with thin lines and hatching bringing out the ornamental details.
Context
Hollar, a Bohemian printmaker, created this sheet in 1645 during his years in England. It belongs to a series of designs for goldsmith work made for the London goldsmith and art dealer Peter Lely. Such ornamental patterns served craftsmen as models and were often found in their collections.
Impact
Precisely drawn lines and the even spacing of the figures define the print. Despite the abundant ornament, the view remains balanced and makes the splendor of Baroque goldsmithing vividly tangible.
Technique
For this etching, the drawing was scratched into a metal plate, which was then etched with acid. The second state suggests possible reworking or corrections from the first. The sheet was printed on paper; the thin lines and hatching match Hollar's exacting style.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)