Petites Grotesques 1550 - 1562

"Petites Grotesques," a collection of 42 ornamental designs by Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau, is a masterful example of 16th-century French Renaissance decorative art. Created between 1550 and 1562, this work showcases intricate grotesques, a popular motif characterized by fantastical creatures, foliage, and architectural elements. The series, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the artistic sensibility of the period, reflecting the fascination with classical antiquity and the flourishing of decorative arts in France.