The edges of the sheet are framed by candelabra (rendered in half form) composed of a variety of swags and animals, notably a pelican at top center; a monkey wearing a jester's cap at upper left; a saytr at center facing left and climbing stairs; a duck and a dragon fly at center and two frolicking rabbits at lower right.

There are 2 other images of this object. This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions), and as such we offer a high-resolution image of it. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag ornament, animals, grotesques, wildlife, garlands, swags, monkeys, acanthus, serpents, bees, rabbits, acorns, crabs, squirrel, grotesque, herma, satyr, whimsy, goose.

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Object Timeline

1994	We acquired this object.
2013	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2016	We exhibited this object.
2021	You found it!

Drawing, Design for Grotesque Decoration, mid–late 16th century

This is a Drawing. 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.

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, early 16th century
pen and brown ink on paper, lined.
Museum purchase through gift of Walter Leo Hildburgh.
1956-41-1

Vertical rectangle showing strapwork design. At center, Perseus rescuing Andromeda. Above, pairs of snakes and swans flank a nude. Below, fish and lions.

Print, Strapwork Grotesque with Mythological Scene, 1566
engraving on laid paper.
Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John I. Kane.
1944-83-7-2

Grotesque panel. In center, nude woman or goddess sits in carriage drawn by a pair of swans. A satyr pushes the carriage from behind. From above, Cupid aims his bow and arrow at the rider.

Print, Plate 24, from Grotteßco: in diverßche manieren (Various...
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:

Irregular cartouche composed of trees, bridges, and fantastic foliage executed in the chinoiserie style. A small figure balances on a bell laden rope suspended between two platforms at center. A group of three figures watch the performance from a draped bridge at lower left.

Print, Ornamental Design from "Nouvelle suite de cahiers chinois a l'usage...
etching with colored inks à la poupé on off-white laid paper.
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
1921-41-21

The edges of the sheet are framed by candelabra and strapwork frame (rendered in half form) and composed of a variety of swags and animals. A saytr at right faces left and holds a swag; a fantastic animal crouches at left and at bottom of sheet walks left carring a bunch of flowers and is followed by a goose.

Drawing, Design for Grotesque Decoration, mid–late 16th century
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

Irregular cartouche with exotic landscape and fantastic creatures. At center, two figures sit beneath open air pagoda-like structure.

Print, Ornamental Design from "Nouvelle suite de cahiers chinois a l'usage...
etching with colored inks à la poupé on off-white laid paper.
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
1921-41-23

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, mid–late 16th century; 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.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2DzHV/
Accession Number 1994-64-1
Object ID 18649083