Brooch with Fantasy Animals at Top and Fauns with Vases at Bottom
1596
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1596
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a fancy brooch with weird creatures and shapes. At the top, two dragon-like beasts face each other. Below them is a big, starburst design with crowns and jewels. On the sides, two small fauns sit holding vases. The whole thing looks like it’s made of metal, with lots of tiny lines for detail. The artist drew this in 1596 as a way to show off jewelry designs. The lines and shading make it look almost 3D. The fauns and dragons mix real and made-up animals, which was a fun trick back then. Want to see more like this? Check out engraving to learn how artists use lines to create depth.
