Vase with Two Winged Satyrs (17th century (late))
Original title: Vase with Two Winged Satyrs
kurzbeschreibung
What sets this engraved vase with two winged satyrs apart from related vessel prints of the period is René Boyvin's tight interweaving of the vessel body and its figured ornament. The motif is dated to the late 17th century and belongs to the ornament prints of the Renaissance and Baroque that served craftsmen as models.
Description
A broad, flat foot supports a slender cylindrical body with a fluted lower edge. Two winged satyrs flank the elaborate lid in lively poses; one holds a wreath, the other a fruit. Above them runs a long, sickle-shaped snake motif, and around a cup a relief with further figures wraps over the vase's belly. Symmetrically arranged, fine strokes and restrained hatching produce a sculptural impression.
Context
René Boyvin, a French copperplate engraver of the 16th century, was known for ornament prints influenced by the School of Fontainebleau. In their day, antique vases and grotesques were sought-after decorative models for goldsmiths, sculptors, and cabinetmakers. As pattern books, such sheets carried classical forms and mythological motifs across Europe.
Impact
Precise lines and the symmetrical layout give the sheet a calm, balanced grace. Delicate hatching lays light and shadow so that the vase's roundness stands out, while the ornamental character remains palpable throughout.
Technique
In copperplate engraving, lines are incised into a copper plate and then transferred to paper with printing ink. Fine strokes and hatching allow the ornamental motifs to be reproduced in precise detail. The monochrome print brings the graphic quality of the structure to the fore.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)