An Oak Leaf Ornament
1470
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1470
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
An Oak Leaf Ornament is a 1470 by Master W with the Key, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a single oak leaf, pressed deep into metal so every vein stands out sharp and clear. This isn’t a drawing—it’s an engraving, one of only ten leaf ornaments made by this artist. No one knows why he chose leaves, or what they were meant to decorate. The detail is so fine you can almost feel the rough edges. Look up the subject of flanders to see more quiet, precise work from the same time and place.
