Two angels supporting a cartouche or shield 1568 - 1577

This etching, created by Orazio de Santis between 1568 and 1577, depicts two angels supporting a cartouche or shield. The angels are rendered in a highly detailed and naturalistic style, with their wings and bodies meticulously depicted. The cartouche is left blank, suggesting that the work was intended as a design for a decorative element to be used in another work of art. This etching is a prime example of the Mannerist style, characterized by its emphasis on elegance, complexity, and the use of exaggerated proportions.