1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Design for a Pendant with a Sea-Monster in a Shell Carrying a Triton and a Woman with a Sail is a 1582 ink by Adriaen Collaert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a strange, detailed metal design. At the center, a coiled sea monster sits inside a shell. On top of it, a small figure—maybe a boy—balances on its back while holding a sail. Above them, a woman floats in the air, reaching upward. The whole thing is framed by swirling ropes and fancy shapes, like a chandelier. The tiny details in the metalwork suggest this was meant for something real, like a lamp or decoration. The artist used sharp lines to show texture, like the scales on the monster or the folds in the sail. If you like this kind of intricate metalwork, look up engraving to see how artists carve images into metal.
Adriaen Collaert (1560–1618) was a Flemish artist, born in Antwerp.
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