Upright Ornament with Two Sirens
1506
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Master of the Horse Heads
Master of the Horse Heads (1453–1560) was an artist.
See the richer artist page1506
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Upright Ornament with Two Sirens is a 1506 ink by Master of the Horse Heads, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a black-and-white design of swirling vines and flowers. Two small faces peek out from the leaves like hidden creatures. The background is a solid dark shape, making the light lines stand out sharply. The faces look like sirens—half-human, half-fish—peering from the foliage. This kind of detailed, intricate pattern was common in Renaissance art. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made precise, layered prints.
Master of the Horse Heads (1453–1560) was an artist.
See the richer artist page
