Sheath with Venus and Eros
1516
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1516
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows a long, narrow design carved into metal. At the top, a small figure with wings stands next to a larger, nude woman holding a mirror. Below them, a row of faces peek out from ornate scrollwork and leaves. The whole thing looks like it could be a decorative sheath for a sword or dagger. The tiny figures might be gods or mythical characters, often used in Renaissance art to tell stories. The detailed patterns and faces are typical of engravings from that time. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints by carving into metal.
