1548
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
La Majesté Royale is a 1548 ink by Jean Duvet, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print is packed with swirling figures and strange symbols. At the center sits a crowned woman holding a globe, surrounded by other robed people with wings and odd tools. The background is full of tiny faces and tangled lines. A banner at the bottom reads *Icones Variae Apocalipsis*—that’s Latin for "Various Images of the Apocalypse." The artist used sharp lines and shading to build up dark, busy shapes. Every inch is filled with detail, from the crowns to the tiny hands clutching objects. This style was a way to show deep meaning in a small space. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal plates.
Jean Duvet (1485 – after 1562) was a French Renaissance goldsmith and engraver, now best known for his engravings.
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