Arms of Rohrbach and Holzhausen
1485
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1485
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows two coats of arms side by side on a shield. One has three silver horns on blue. The other has a black eagle on gold. These weren’t just family marks. They were legal proof of status in the Holy Roman Empire. Nobles used engravings like this to prove their rights. The artist cut this into metal by hand. Look up the technique called “engraving.”
