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Vignette for the Title Page of Martinus Bonacina, Opera Omnia

Cornelis Galle I

1632

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

Vignette for the Title Page of Martinus Bonacina, Opera Omnia is a 1632 ink by Cornelis Galle I, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Cornelis Galle I
When & what style?: 1632 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a fancy coat of arms with two owls perched on top, a rooster in the middle, and a banner reading "Nocti Incubando." Below, a woman’s face peeks from the sides, holding up the shield. The background has swirling clouds and a moon, while a snake coils around a tree branch. The rooster and owls might seem odd together, but they’re symbols for night and day. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, making it look almost 3D. Want to see more like this? Check out engraving to learn how artists use lines to build depth.