1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Design for a Pendant with a Sphinx with the Body of a Fish Carrying a Man with an Oar is a 1582 ink by Adriaen Collaert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a strange, detailed drawing of a fish-sphinx carrying a man on its back. The man holds an oar and looks up at a woman sitting beside him. She wears a crown of leaves and holds a fan. Above them is a fancy, swirling chandelier design with loops and teardrop shapes. The fish-sphinx is a mix of a lion’s head, a woman’s torso, and a fish’s tail—something you don’t see every day. The whole scene looks like it’s meant to tell a story, not just show a random moment. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one carved their designs into metal.
Adriaen Collaert (1560–1618) was a Flemish artist, born in Antwerp.
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