Apollo, from a suite of ornament designs with grotesques, allegories and deities
Engraving, part of a series of six oval plates with ornament designs executed on black grounds with grotesque motifs, allegories, and divinities, designed by Étienne Delaune before 1573 (possibly during the 1550s). This print represents Apollo, standing on a kind of canopy, his arms open to the sides, holding scrolling branches on his hands. He wears a laurel wreath, his attribute. On either side is a winged cupid, often associated with fine arts and sciences, of which Apollo is a guardian; their presence reflects the Renaissance ideal that arts and science require love. This is also the reason for the inclusion of two flaming torches (attributes of Cupid) on the upper part of the print. Next to the cupids are two serpents, another attribute of Apollo, likely related to his triumph against Python, the serpent. Delaune seems to be associating Apollo, additionally, with peace, in this print, through the presence of two olive branches on his sides.
Artwork Details
- Title: Apollo, from a suite of ornament designs with grotesques, allegories and deities
- Artist: Etienne Delaune (French, Orléans 1518/19–1583 Strasbourg)
- Date: before 1573
- Medium: Engraving
- Dimensions: Sheet: 4 3/16 × 4 1/4 in. (10.6 × 10.8 cm)
Plate: 3 1/4 × 2 9/16 in. (8.2 × 6.5 cm) - Classifications: Prints, Ornament & Architecture
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
- Object Number: 49.8.3
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.