Targhe ed altri ornati di varie e capricciose invenzioni (Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 14) 1773

This 1773 engraving, "Targhe ed altri ornati di varie e capricciose invenzioni (Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 14)," showcases the elaborate decorative style of Hans Vredeman de Vries. It depicts a rectangular cartouche framed by intricate, interwoven scrolling forms, human heads, and fantastical creatures. These designs, which were intended for use in architectural ornamentation, are characteristic of Vries' work, blending Renaissance and Mannerist influences into uniquely expressive and complex compositions. The engraving, a page from a larger volume, speaks to the prolific and influential career of this sixteenth-century Dutch artist.