Large Pendant, Upright Oval with Floral Ornament 1596

Daniel Mignot created this ornamental design for a pendant sometime in the early 17th century, using the technique of engraving. The artist incised lines into a metal plate – likely copper – and then applied ink, using pressure to transfer the image to paper. Engraving was the printmaking method of choice for intricate, decorative work like this. Look closely, and you’ll see the astonishing level of detail. The composition features floral motifs, ribbons, and even winged creatures, all rendered with exquisite precision. The engraved line has a unique character; it's clean, sharp, and capable of great subtlety. Mignot’s skill with the burin allowed him to create gradations of tone and texture, giving the design a three-dimensional quality. Consider, too, the social context: prints like this were not "fine art" in the modern sense, but rather served as templates for skilled artisans, particularly goldsmiths. This print offers insight into the vital role of reproductive media in the circulation of design ideas, and the close relationship between art and craft in the early modern period.