Drie cartouches 1644 - 1718

"Drie cartouches" (Three Cartouches) is an etching by Italian Baroque artist Giuseppe Maria Mitelli, dated between 1644 and 1718. The artwork is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is a design for three different cartouches, with the central one featuring a female head in a decorative frame. The piece demonstrates Mitelli's mastery of the Baroque style, characterized by dramatic flourishes, intricate details, and a focus on expressive figures. These ornamental designs could have been used for decorative elements in architecture, furniture, or other artistic works. The etching is a testament to Mitelli's talent as a draftsman and his influence on the development of decorative arts in the 17th century.