Bookplate of Wilhelm von Zell

German 15th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a heraldic emblem with accompanying Latin script. The drawing features two distinct coats of arms. On the left, a shield with swirling patterns is topped by a knight's helmet, adorned with heraldic mantling and a small embellishment. To the right, the shield displays three diagonal stripes and is surmounted by a depiction of an imaginary creature, akin to a dragon or griffin, adorned with heraldic decoration. The entire scene is framed within a simple black border, set against a plain background. Below the illustration, a line of Latin text in elegant script is visible.