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Drawing, Design for Grotesque Decoration
This is a Drawing. It was created by Unknown. It is dated mid–late 16th century and we acquired it in 1994. Its medium is pen and brown ink, black chalk on off-white laid paper, mounted on laid paper . It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.
Little is known about this set of three drawings of grotesques, but they distinguish themselves from the tightly controlled organization of Nicoletto da Modena’s engraved designs and those that followed him, although the long-necked monsters are motifs seen in Nicoletto and Giovanni da Brescia’s schemes. Each drawing is framed by half-forms of candelabra, between which the unknown artist created airy scenes populated by images from the natural world mingling with grotesque figures. The ultimate purpose for these designs would likely have been a two-dimensional decoration.
It is credited Museum purchase through gift of the Misses Leupp and Mary Turlay Robinson and from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program Fund.
- Drawing, Design for Candelabrum and Panel of Grotesques
- pen and brown ink on paper, lined.
- Museum purchase through gift of Walter Leo Hildburgh.
- 1956-41-1
- Print, Strapwork Grotesque with Mythological Scene
- engraving on laid paper.
- Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John I. Kane.
- 1944-83-7-2
- Print, Plate 24, from Grotteßco: in diverßche manieren (Various Grotesques)
- etching on laid paper..
- Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John Innes Kane.
- 1945-59-12
Our curators have highlighted 9 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Print, Plate 17, from Grotteßco in diverßche manieren (Various Grotesques)
- etching on laid paper.
- Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John Innes Kane.
- 1945-59-5
- Drawing, Design for Grotesque Decoration
- pen and brown ink on laid paper, mounted on laid paper.
- Museum purchase through gift of the Misses Leupp and Mary Turlay Robinson and....
- 1994-64-2
- Sampler (Netherlands), 1753
- silk embroidery on linen foundation.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor from the Fraser/Martin Collection.
- 1975-81-4
Its dimensions are
H x W x D: 13.5 × 7.9 cm (5 5/16 × 3 1/8 in.) Mat: 71.1 × 55.9 cm (28 × 22 in.) matted with 1994-64-2 and1994-64-3
It has the following markings
Fragment of shield (with cross, saint?) on mount sheet between -2 and -3.
It is inscribed
Inscribed in graphite by a later hand, lower right of mount (bearing 3 drawings, -1,-2,-3): Gianantonio da Brescia/cf. Nicola Modena; at lower right on mount beneath each drawing, 13.5 x 8.0 cm. (top); 179 x 92 mm (LL); 173 x 107 mm. (LR) Numbers partially erased beneath each drawing on mount at LL, 44 233/44 233a/44 233b. Numerals in graphite at lower left ofmount sheet: 286/Inv 1g 87(?); lower right, 100
Cite this object as
Drawing, Design for Grotesque Decoration; Unknown; Italy; pen and brown ink, black chalk on off-white laid paper, mounted on laid paper ; H x W x D: 13.5 × 7.9 cm (5 5/16 × 3 1/8 in.) Mat: 71.1 × 55.9 cm (28 × 22 in.) matted with 1994-64-2 and1994-64-3; Museum purchase through gift of the Misses Leupp and Mary Turlay Robinson and from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program Fund; 1994-64-1
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Fragile Beasts.
