1474
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Griffin is a 1474 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a griffin—a creature with the body of a lion, eagle wings, and a bird-like head. Its feathers are detailed, and its claws look sharp. The tail curls up like a scorpion’s, adding to its fierce look. The artist used lines to build up shadows and texture, almost like shading with pencil strokes. This was a common way to make engravings look three-dimensional back then. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists like this made their marks.
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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