Design for the back of a gem-set handmirror
1561
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1561
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Design for the back of a gem-set handmirror is a 1561 by Etienne Delaune, a Renaissance work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This drawing shows a fancy mirror back. A woman lies dying while a winged figure hovers above. Jewels and scrolls fill every corner. It was made in 1561 for a real gold mirror. The artist mixed stories—Julia’s death with the Four Elements. Fortune’s wheel spins at the top, hinting at luck’s ups and downs. Look up the technique called cross-hatching to see how the artist shaded every inch.
