Title Page for Ludovicus Nonnius, Commentarius in Huberti Goltzi Graeciam, Insulas, et Asiam Minorem
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a fancy book title page. At the top sits a proud eagle, gripping a spear and a bundle of sticks. Below it, a shield with a coat of arms sits on a pedestal, surrounded by scrolls, a broken column, and a lion. Small birds and garlands fill the corners, and the text reads like a Latin book title. The eagle and lion are symbols of power and strength. The broken column might hint at lost knowledge or history. This kind of detailed, dramatic design was common in early 1600s books. Look up engraving to see how artists like this carved intricate images into metal.
