Ornament Panel: Two Sphinxes Supporting Shields
1510
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1510
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows two strange lion-bodied creatures with human heads—sphinxes—sitting on a wide ledge. Above them are three stacked shields, each decorated with swirling patterns and a wreath of leaves. The whole scene is filled with tiny, detailed lines that make it look carved rather than painted. The artist used a method where lines press into the surface to create dark and light areas. This kind of printmaking was popular in the 1500s. Try looking up engraving to see how this technique works.
