A Frieze Arrangement with a Putto Wearing a Laurel Crown Riding a Goat at Left and Many Infants Playing Musical Instruments in Front
Original title: A frieze arrangement with a putto weating a laurel crown riding a goat at left and many infants playing musical instruments in front
kurzbeschreibung
Made between 1530 and 1560, this copperplate engraving comes from the hand of the Master of the Die. It presents a frieze in which a putto crowned with laurel rides a billy goat, surrounded by a troop of naked children playing musical instruments. The sheet measures 10 × 40.5 cm.
Description
At the left a putto wearing a laurel wreath sits astride a goat. From there a long line of naked children extends to the right, beating drums and playing other instruments, some of them carrying flags and arrows. Together the figures form a solemn procession. The setting stays bare, which lets the children's activity stand out clearly.
Context
An Italian engraver of the Renaissance, the Master of the Die worked in Rome between roughly 1530 and 1560. Many of his prints were made after designs by other artists; he became known for crowded figure scenes and richly ornamented decoration. Friezes of this kind were much in demand during the Renaissance because they imitated antique reliefs, and they often served as models for decorative work.
Impact
Cleanly drawn lines and a lucid arrangement give the sheet an even, almost dancing rhythm. The music-making swarm of children feels lively and calls up a carefree, festive mood.
Technique
Executed as an engraving, the print reveals in its delicate lines and shading strokes how the bodies of the figures were modelled. The method allows precise detail and a finely graded play of light and dark.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)