Ornamenteel cartouche met opdracht aan de schilder Francesco Crescenzi before 1648

This ornamental cartouche, an engraving, was made by an anonymous artist to honor the painter Francesco Crescenzi. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking technique, where the design is incised into a metal plate. The lines are then filled with ink, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Here, the fine lines create a sense of depth and texture, from the cherubic figures at the top, to the laborers manning canons at the base. This print is more than just a dedication; it's a product of skilled labor, both in its making and in its subject. The engraver's craft, requiring precision and patience, mirrors the labor of those depicted operating the cannons. Both are essential to the social and political structures of the time. By focusing on the materials, processes, and context of creation, we recognize that even a seemingly simple print is imbued with layers of meaning, reflecting the complex interplay between art, labor, and society.