Ornament with Trophy of Arms
1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a busy scene of twisted vines, broken weapons, and winged figures. In the center, a crown sits atop a pile of swords, shields, and a helmet. Around them, small faces peek from the leaves, and a building with a clock tower looms in the background. The artist packed a lot into this small space—every line tells a story, but it’s not clear what it all means. The weapons and crown might hint at power or war, but the exact message is left for you to guess. Want to see more like this? Look up engraving to see how artists carved these detailed scenes.
