Cartouche met hertenkop en vrouwenmasker 1584

This 1584 engraving by an anonymous artist depicts a decorative cartouche, a type of ornamental frame, featuring a deer head and a female mask. The cartouche is intricately designed with scrolls, brackets, and other flourishes characteristic of Mannerist style. It likely served as a decorative element in a larger publication, possibly a book or map. The inscription at the top of the cartouche, "ITALIAE NOVISSIMA DESCRIPTIO AVCTTORE IACOBO CASTALDO PEDEMONTANO," indicates its connection to a work on Italian geography. This engraving, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, offers a glimpse into the artistry and aesthetic sensibilities of the late 16th century.