Horizontal Panel Design with a Young Man and a (male) Sphinx Interspersed between Acanthus Rinceaux 1600 - 1650

This anonymous drawing, created between 1600 and 1650, showcases a young man and a sphinx amidst intricate acanthus rinceaux. The detailed pen and ink work highlights the decorative style popular in the 17th century, where organic motifs were used for embellishment. The work, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies a common decorative theme of the period, using a blend of human and animal forms with stylized plant elements. It offers viewers a glimpse into the rich artistic vocabulary of Renaissance and Baroque design.