Artwork
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Pieter van der Heyden. It dates from 1567 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:in plate, in image, lower left: H. Cock excudebat 1567.; in plate, in image, on sheet above fireplace: Hiero. Bos. Inventor; in plate, in image, on box on the wall at top center: PAME [monogram of Pieter van der Heyden]; in plate, below image on left: Masquers entrez, laisses ce gras grouleur / Bein soies venu a nostre ducasse / Chantes, jouez, la vielle de bon coeur / nous faict les gauffres assez bien grasse / buvons de ceste malvoisi garbe / ce pendant quau sot on faict la barbe (Carnivalers, enter, and leave this racket. Welcome to our feast. Sing, play the hurdy-gurdy with all your heart. We make good and thick waffles. Let's drink of this bad fruit while we make fun of the fool); in plate, below image on right: Pijpt nou vrij oppe en speelt van hertten fier / backt wafelen en struijven om wel te smeeren / tis non al keremisse sijt nou vrolijck hier / dus brengt malcanderen eens van den Rijnschen Cleeren / en wijst nou uit ghenuchten de sot wel scheeren (Now, sing freely and play with hearty pride. Bake waffles and smear them well with syrup. It is already Kermis that is being celebrated here. Let's bring forth much merriment from the Rhenish costume, while we poke fun of the fool and take pleasure in shaving him) [translations from Henry Luttikhuizen's "The Humor and Wit of Pieter Bruegel the Elder," exh. cat. Grand Rapids: Center Art Gallery, Calvin College, 2010, p. 110, cat. 33.] ; on verso, in graphite at upper right: Tom. 5. pag. 80 no.33; on verso in graphite at lower right: Bos p.185
- Markings
- Marked:none
About this work
Overview
Shrove Tuesday is a 1567 engraving on laid paper by Pieter van der Heyden, a Flemish printmaker known for reproducing designs by prominent artists like Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The work is part of the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving captures a chaotic, lively scene associated with pre-Lenten festive traditions. A diverse group of people, each engaged in different activities, eating, playing music, or idle pursuits, fill the space. Amidst the commotion, a small image of a saint holding a cross overlooks the scene. The bilingual text at the bottom may underscore the day's tumultuous nature.
Technique & Style
Van der Heyden employed sharp, detailed engravings to pack a crowded, dynamic scene into a small format. The use of laid paper and precise line work highlights the artist's skill in capturing intricate details, from clothing and expressions to scattered objects like pots, a dog, and a cat.
History & Provenance
Created in 1567, the engraving is now held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. While its direct provenance history is not detailed here, its presence in a major national gallery underscores its significance as a 16th-century print.
Context
As a reproductive engraver, van der Heyden's work, including Shrove Tuesday, would have helped disseminate designs by leading Flemish artists to a broader audience. The piece reflects the cultural and religious practices of the pre-Lenten season in 16th-century Flanders.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter van der Heyden (c. 1530 - after March 1572) was a Flemish printmaker who is known for his reproductive engravings after works by leading Flemish painters and designers of the 16th century.
