Ornamental Panel: Triton Ridden by a Child

1510

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Ornamental Panel: Triton Ridden by a Child is a 1510 by Giovanni Pietro da Birago, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Giovanni Pietro da Birago
When & what style?: 1510 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a tall, thin panel with a chubby kid riding a sea god who has a fish tail and a conch shell. These panels were printed like wallpaper, then hand-colored. People stuck them on walls or used them as cheat-sheets for carving the same designs in wood or metal. The armor and sea monsters here match the fancy stuff in the room next door. Look up more prints from Italy, 15th century to see how artists shared patterns back then.

The story of this work

Overview

Printed ornamental columns—such as these flanking the portrait of Henry II—were probably colored and used for interior decorations. The printed panels may have also served artists and craftsmen creating similar patterns in other materials, including wood, stone, or metal. They have been imaginatively integrated into the display on this wall because their intricate designs feature pieces of armor and mythical creatures that echo those in the works around them.

Read the full account in the museum source.