Decorative acanthus scrollwork with bird of prey and snail

1550

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Decorative acanthus scrollwork with bird of prey and snail is a 1550 by Unknown, a Renaissance work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1550 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing shows acanthus scrollwork with a bird of prey and a snail. It's detailed and intricate, with the bird and snail adding a touch of life to the decorative design. The drawing was part of a collection assembled by Cassiano dal Pozzo to study ancient and natural worlds. You can see more drawings like this one using the technique of cross-hatching.

The story of this work

Overview

This drawing depicts decorative acanthus scrollwork featuring a bird of prey and a snail, originally part of a 16th-century album of Renaissance sculpture designs. It was included in the *Museo Cartaceo* (Paper Museum), a visual encyclopedia compiled by Cassiano dal Pozzo in the 17th century to document ancient and natural subjects. The sheet, once part of an album of ornamental designs inspired by Roman architectural friezes, later passed through notable collections, including those of Pope Clement XI, Cardinal Albani, King George III, and Charles Townley. It was dispersed in 1990 after…

Read the full account in the museum source.