Plate 1: a cartouche with a lion head with wings at top center, a putto holding a blank escutcheon to either side, from 'Twelve cartouches' (Recueil de douze cartouches) 1640 - 1645

This etching by François Collignon, created between 1640 and 1645, is a decorative cartouche featuring a winged lion head at the center, surrounded by elaborate scrollwork and two putti holding blank escutcheons. The design is typical of the Baroque period, with its emphasis on dynamic movement and dramatic ornamentation. This particular cartouche, part of a series of twelve, was likely intended for use as a decorative element in books, prints, or other works of art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses this example of Collignon's work, showcasing his mastery of etching and his contribution to the decorative arts of the 17th century.