Winter, from a set of ornamental designs with allegories of the seasons and grotesques
Engraving, part of a group of four ornamental designs with grotesque motifs, from a series of six designs with allegorical representations of the seasons, created by Marc Duval. The design consists of two grotesque centaurs, sitting on a shell motif on the lower part of the print, each with a monstrous creature standing on their shoulders. With horse body, bat wings, and dragon-like, humanoid faces, they hold in their mouths trophies made up of musical instruments. Their tails, made up of scrolling branches, extend diagonally towards the upper corners of the print, and are flanked by winged, nude female torsos, which stand in front of two falcons, pulling strips of fabric from their mouths, and holding a sort of canopy that stands above the dragon heads. The falcons stand on scrolling branches, which flank the upper part of a third canopy, on the center of the print, from which hangs an ox skull. The inscription suggests that this is a representation of winter, although the motifs in the print, which include falcons, musical instruments, an ox skull, and two butterflies, seem closer to an allusion of the spring.
Artwork Details
- Title: Winter, from a set of ornamental designs with allegories of the seasons and grotesques
- Artist: Marc Duval (French, Le Mans ca. 1530–1581 Paris)
- Artist: After (?) René Boyvin (French, Angers ca. 1525–1598 or 1625/6 Angers)
- Date: ca. 1550–81
- Medium: Engraving: second state
- Dimensions: Sheet: 7 in. × 5 9/16 in. (17.8 × 14.1 cm)
- Classifications: Prints, Ornament & Architecture
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941
- Object Number: 41.24.1
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Marc Duval
René Boyvin
ca. 1550–81
Marc Duval
René Boyvin
ca. 1550–81
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1550–81
Niccolò della Casa
Baccio Bandinelli
1544
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1560–80
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