Title Page for Agostino Mascardi, Silvarium Libri IV
1622
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1622
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows two muscular men in a framed scene. One plays a lyre while holding a scroll, and the other leans on a spear. Above them is a shield with a face, and below, a coat of arms with a bird. The text in the middle reads *"Silvarium Libri IV"* and names a person called Alexander. The tiny details—like the winged face at the bottom or the careful folds in the drapery—show how much work went into this. It’s a title page for a book, but it looks like a painting. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists carved these images into metal.
