Horae, B.M.V. use of Rome 1504

This woodcut, created by Thielman Kerver in 1504, is a decorative border for a book printed in Rome. The intricate design features two unicorns flanking a shield with the artist’s initials. The background is filled with a dense, swirling pattern of leaves and flowers, demonstrating a characteristic style of the period known as “grotesque” or “arabesque.” The use of these motifs, inspired by classical Roman art, was popular in Renaissance Italy.