1499
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Circular Ornament with Musicians Playing near a Well is a 1499 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This round print shows two small figures playing music by a well. One holds a lute, the other a drum. Behind them is a tiny tower and a tree, all framed by a dense border of swirling vines and leaves. The border is packed with tiny, repeated patterns—like a wallpaper design—made with fine lines. This kind of detailed linework is how the artist created the whole image. Look up engraving to see how artists like this carved intricate designs into metal plates.
Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445 – 10 November 1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a German printmaker and goldsmith, perhaps of a Dutch family origin. He was the most prolific engraver of the…
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