Artwork
A Wine Decanter with Two Fighting Sea Horses
A Wine Decanter with Two Fighting Sea Horses is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Master of the Medici Banquet Decanters. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in brown ink: Le lettere A e B denotano i canali da empire il bicchiero, et i Canali sono due p[er] poter da uno / mettere vino bianco, e dall'altro vino rosso, i Cavalli Marini si empiranno di vino bianco / et l'altri mostri marini di vino rosso. (The letters A and B indicate the channels to fill the cup, and there are two channels so that one may pour white wine in one and red wine in the other. The seahorses will be filled with white wine and the other creatures with red) (trans. William Breazeale).
About this work
Overview
A Wine Decanter with Two Fighting Sea Horses is a 1660 drawing by the Master of the Medici Banquet Decanters, rendered in pen and brown ink with blue wash over graphite on light beige laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing features a wine decanter topped by two intricately detailed sea horses engaged in combat. Their dynamic poses, with flowing manes and tails, convey a sense of motion and energy.
Technique & Style
The artist employed cross-hatching to achieve texture and depth, particularly evident in the sea horses' detailed forms. This technique contributes to the overall dynamic energy of the composition.
History & Provenance
Created in 1660, the drawing is attributed to the Master of the Medici Banquet Decanters, a designation suggesting a connection to the Medici family's decorative arts commissions.
Context
The work reflects the Baroque period's emphasis on movement and tension, as seen in the struggling sea horses. The decanter itself may allude to the Medici family's association with luxury and hospitality.
Legacy
While the Master of the Medici Banquet Decanters is not widely recognized outside of specific art historical contexts, this drawing demonstrates the artist's skill in capturing dynamic movement and texture through precise draftsmanship.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Medici Banquet Decanters
Master of the Medici Banquet Decanters (1650–1670) was an artist.
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