1594
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Monkeys Riding a Camel and a Bull is a 1594 by Nicolaes de Bruyn, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This black-and-white print shows two monkeys riding animals—a camel and a bull—while holding sticks like spears. The monkeys look alert, almost playful, as they sit atop their unusual mounts. In the background, a deer and a goat stand calmly, surrounded by simple plants and a rocky ground. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to create a dramatic scene, making the animals and monkeys stand out. This style was common in prints from the 1500s. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this technique works in other art.
Nicolaes de Bruyn (Antwerp, 1571 – Rotterdam, 1656) was a Flemish engraver, who after training in Antwerp was active in the Dutch Republic.
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