← Aegidius Sadeler II

Plate 6: Vase or Ewer with a Frieze Containing Naked Figures, Supported Below by Two Female Sphinxes, from "Antique Vases" (Vasa a Polydoro Caravagino)

Original title: Plate 6: Vase or Ewer with a Frieze Containing Naked Figures, Supported Below by Two Female Sphinxes, from "Antique Vases" (Vasa a Polydoro Caravagino)

Artist

Aegidius Sadeler II

Date

1605

Medium

Etching and engraving; second state of three (Bartsch)

Dimensions

Sheet: 9 1/4 × 6 3/16 in. (23.5 × 15.7 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951

kurzbeschreibung

This 1605 etching and engraving by Aegidius Sadeler II presents an ancient vase or jug adorned with a frieze of nude figures. It belongs to the series 'Antique Vases' and is the second of three states. The print forms part of a systematic survey of antique forms.

Description

The vase stands at the center, supported below by two female sphinxes that form its base. Around the body of the vessel runs a frieze of naked figures: some stride forward, others stand motionless. The linework shifts between delicate and stronger strokes, enhancing the sculptural presence of the figures and ornaments. An inscription at the bottom margin names the artist as 'Polydorus de Caravaggio' and indicates Rome as the place of origin.

Context

Within the 'Antique Vases' series, Polidoro da Caravaggio served as the model for Sadeler, a Flemish engraver who worked in Prague and later in Rome. The compilation documents ancient vessels that were regarded in the Renaissance as models for art and craft. Created in Rome in 1605, the print is part of the city's study of antiquity.

Impact

At first the eye is drawn by the vase's symmetrical arrangement, then it glides over the encircling frieze, whose figures in varied poses bring movement to the strict form. The precise engraving produces a cool elegance that places the motif at a historical distance without overloading it decoratively. Calm and balance define the overall impression, while the sphinxes give the vessel an archaic stability.

Technique

Etching and engraving are combined, allowing for variations in line strength and achieving high detail in the figures and ornaments. This impression is the second of three states, suggesting that the plate was reworked. The mixed technique permits both fine contours and stronger accents.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)