Design for a Ewer 1565

This is Erasmus Hornick’s “Design for a Ewer,” a 5 11/16 × 3 3/8 inch sheet held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hornick, who lived from 1501 to 1583, was working during a period of immense social and religious upheaval. The design shows the influence of classical antiquity, revived during the Renaissance. The imagery, drawn from mythology, shows gods and mythical creatures in elaborate detail. The ewer itself would have been a luxury item, reflecting the wealth and status of its owner. The use of classical imagery also reflects the owner's education and cultural aspirations. We might think about the absence of women artists at the time, and how design and artistry was an almost entirely male endeavor. The female figures, rendered as mythological beings, seem to reinforce male fantasies and power. What does it mean to decorate an object of everyday use with imagery that both elevates and objectifies the female form? Ultimately, this design offers a glimpse into the complex interplay of art, power, and identity in the 16th century.