Cartouche Design with Two Dragons

This engraving depicts a cartouche design characterized by two dragons on either side of the central compartment, and two putti below. It is a copy after an engraving from an ornament print series of 24 designs for cartouches and other ornaments previously attributed to the Italian artist Federico Zuccaro. This attribution dates from the eighteenth century, however, and is based on the title "Recueil de divers cartels à la manière antique, de l'invention de Fréderic Zuccaro" given to the series in 1765, when it was reissued by the French publisher Charles-Antoine Jombert as part of his Repertoire des Artistes. There appear to be no direct links to the Italian artist, nor an original Italian print series on which the French prints were based. The series likely originates from France and was engraved by Pierre Firens, who also published the first edition under his name. It is known in several other states and editions including one by Pierre II Mariette. The name of Jacob van der Heyden appears on another print in the Museum's collection, and suggests that he too may have published an edition of the prints. The series generally enjoyed great popularity throughout Europe during the seventeenth century, and is known in several other copies made in France by H. Picart, in Belgium by Petrus Rucholle, and in England by Robert White. While this print was originally thought to be the Italian original based on a note made in the album, it derives from the set of copies made by H. Picart, likely not long after Firens issued his prints around 1610. A larger group of prints from the Picart set is in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.