Fries met drie kinderen, zittend tussen bladranken c. 1500 - 1600

This is an engraving from the 16th century, made by an artist known only as Monogrammist MHF, depicting three children among leafy vines. Imagery of putti, or cherubic children, became very popular in the art of the Renaissance in Northern Europe. Their popularity emerged in tandem with renewed interest in classical antiquity and this imagery was often appropriated in the decoration of secular objects and spaces as well as religious ones. The composition is like a frieze, which became fashionable at the time. Engravings such as this one were most often produced for wealthy patrons and were collected in albums, often displayed within custom-made frames. The motif of children entwined with foliage, and their association with fertility and abundance, were frequently used in the decoration of domestic spaces, especially in depictions of mythological scenes. By studying the provenance of such prints, and the inventories of collectors, we can better understand the social and cultural values that informed the tastes of the wealthy during this period.