Leeuwenvel met opdracht, dode dieren en jachthonden 1595

Editor: This is "Leeuwenvel met opdracht, dode dieren en jachthonden" made in 1595 by Antonio Tempesta. It combines drawing, print, ink, and engraving. I’m struck by the contrast between the ornate lettering and the rather brutal depiction of dead animals. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, situating this engraving in its historical context is key. Tempesta was working in a period where aristocratic patronage was paramount. This print served a very specific purpose: as a dedication to Iacomo Senesio, a secretary within the Consalvi family. Note how the elaborate frame features dead game – signs of a successful hunt and markers of wealth and status. The very act of commissioning, displaying, and then dedicating this print, reinforced a specific social order and idealized vision of noble life. Editor: So, it’s less about the artistic skill, and more about the social message? Curator: It's intertwined. Tempesta's skill as an engraver certainly played a role in effectively conveying that message. But what interests me is how imagery like this, readily reproduced through printmaking, circulated within specific social circles and promoted certain ideologies of power, luxury, and control over nature. The Rijksmuseum today collects and preserves these prints as artworks, but originally these prints functioned more as political statements. Notice how Tempesta signs his name; his success relied on serving his patrons. Editor: I never considered that art from that era could be such deliberate tools for promoting social standing. It really shifts how you interpret it. Curator: Exactly! Examining art through the lens of social and political history provides invaluable insight. Were the dogs added simply for aesthetic effect, or did the owner value particular hunting breeds and wanted to immortalize them too? Editor: That's a great point. Thinking about it, even something that looks simple can carry a lot of weight once you unpack the cultural context. Thank you!