Reproductie van een prent van twaalf gedecoreerde hoeken uit de Architecture door Hans Vredeman de Vries before 1880

This is a reproduction of a print of twelve decorated corners from Architecture by Hans Vredeman de Vries, made in Antwerp sometime in the 16th century. The image gives us insight into the institutions of art and architecture during the Northern Renaissance. Architectural theory became increasingly important during the 16th century, and publications like this one helped disseminate ideas about design and decoration. These images are visual codes with cultural references and historical associations to classical forms, such as acanthus scrolls, a popular motif taken from ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The print reflects the social and economic structures of the time, where skilled artisans and printers worked together to produce pattern books that would inspire architects, sculptors, and other craftsmen. Studying these types of resources helps historians to better understand the institutional context in which art was created and consumed.