Plate 9: a cartouche with the head of a ram at top center, flowers at top left and right, from 'Twelve cartouches' (Recueil de douze cartouches) 1640 - 1645

This etching by François Collignon, a French artist active in the 17th century, is part of a series of twelve cartouches. This particular design features a ram's head at the top center, surrounded by two large, curled horns and two floral motifs at the top left and right, all framing a blank space at the center. The elaborate details of the cartouche, a decorative motif used for framing or enclosing text, are characteristic of Collignon's style. This print is likely a design for a decorative element for furniture or architecture, reflecting the popular use of such motifs in the period.