Ornament

Theodor de Bry

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of an intricately designed ornament. The vertically oriented artwork features a detailed ornament with various decorative elements. At the top is an ornate crown or crest containing a house surrounded by foliage and figures resembling mythical animals, possibly lions or griffons. Below that, there is an oval frame enclosing a sun motif with an anthropomorphic face. Extending downward, two cherubic figures or putti hold a circular emblem. In the central section, there is an oval medallion with an image of a classical female figure holding branches or flowers, draped in flowing garments. The lowest portion of the ornament is capped with another figure that appears to be half-human, half-creature, possibly a variation of a satyr or another mythological being. The piece features swirling, symmetrical lines, consistent with design practices of the Renaissance or Baroque period.