Candelabra Grotesque with a Winged Female Term on a Pedestal 1540 - 1570

This drawing of a candelabra grotesque with a winged female figure was made by an anonymous artist. The image speaks to the social and cultural values of its time, likely the 16th century, when it was popular among artists in Europe to use grotesque elements inspired by ancient Roman art. The candelabra's design, with its mix of human, animal, and plant forms, reflects the era's fascination with the classical past and its reinterpretation of ancient motifs. The winged figure on the pedestal and the sphinx-like creatures at the base give the design a sense of classical grandeur. These elements may have resonated with the elite social classes who sought to emulate the values and aesthetics of antiquity. This drawing could have served as a template to be applied to luxury objects, such as metalwork or furniture. The study of such images requires the skills of the historian to place them within their proper social and institutional context. We can begin to understand better the meanings these images would have carried for their early modern audiences by consulting period pattern books and examining surviving examples of similar ornament.