Grotesque Panel 1550

Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau made this grotesque panel sometime in the 16th century with engraving. It reflects the cultural fascination with classical antiquity that defined the Renaissance. This print would have been disseminated across Europe. We see a range of motifs that were popular at the time: vases, garlands, putti and other fanciful creatures taken from ancient Roman art. It’s worth considering how these images were used. Architectural ornament was a way for the elites to signal their erudition and taste. Artisans would use pattern books like this to create elaborate decorations for palaces and other luxury items. These images reveal the social function of art. Was it simply decorative, or did it also serve as a means of reinforcing hierarchies and creating social distinction? Historians can use sources like inventories of noble collections and treatises on architecture to understand the cultural context of the artwork. We begin to see how art is deeply embedded in its social and institutional context.