Groteske vaas met drie mascarons 1500 - 1600

This anonymous engraving, created sometime between 1500 and 1600, depicts a vase shaped like a heart, adorned with grotesque masks, overflowing with flowers and a snail on a pedestal. The intricate detail of the vase and the delicate depiction of the blooms exemplify the artist's skill in capturing the beauty of nature while simultaneously incorporating grotesque elements. The inscription "O FLOS SIC VERNANS IUVVENILI ATATE PVDOREM" adds a layer of symbolic meaning, possibly alluding to the ephemeral nature of beauty and youth. The image is a testament to the artistic trends of the Renaissance period, characterized by both the admiration for classical beauty and the fascination with the grotesque.