Six subjects after antique cameos: female figures tending to a seated male figure; putti and dolphins; female figure holding the reins of a pair of rearing horses; intertwined naked figures flanked by music-playing satyrs; triton with shield-bearing female figure; naked male figure seated on goat-headed sea creature 1510 - 1561

This print by Battista Franco was made in the mid-16th century, using etching. This is an intaglio process, where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The image shows six different scenes, all based on antique cameos. Etching allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, making art more accessible. The dense hatching, or shading, shows the labor involved in the production process. Franco would have needed to master the skills of drawing, metalworking, and printing. The print’s social context lies in the Renaissance interest in classical antiquity. By reproducing cameos, Franco was participating in a wider cultural project of reviving and celebrating ancient art and ideas. Yet, the medium transforms these classical subjects into something new. Paying attention to materials, making, and context allows us to understand the full meaning of an artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.