Ornament with Two Sphinxes and a Winged Man

Lucas van Leyden

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a decorative grotesque design featuring fantastical creatures. The image shows a symmetrical arrangement with mythical beasts on either side, each having the upper body of a human and the lower body resembling that of a winged, leonine creature. In the center atop a decorative plinth, a seated winged figure holds a staff, framed by intricate tendrils and scrollwork. The style employs fine line work to create depth and texture, typical of detailed Renaissance engravings.