Cartouche met een voorstelling van de roof van Proserpina 1566

This is a cartouche by Pieter van der Heyden depicting the myth of the abduction of Persephone. The cartouche is framed by a complex geometric design with grotesque masks and figures on pedestals at the sides, while the central scene depicts Pluto in his chariot, abducting Persephone. The detail of the etching shows the skill of the 16th-century Netherlandish artist in this decorative style. This print, now in the Rijksmuseum, is one of several works by Heyden in this style. This style of cartouche was popular for decorative purposes, as it could be adapted to fit within a variety of architectural settings.