Design for a Hand Mirror by Etienne Delaune

Design for a Hand Mirror 1561

print, metal, intaglio, engraving

pencil drawn

pen drawing

print

metal

intaglio

old engraving style

form

11_renaissance

line

decorative-art

engraving

Etienne Delaune created this design for a hand mirror as an engraving sometime in the 16th century. It offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of Renaissance artistry and its relationship to social status. Here, the mirror's design isn't just about function; it's a display of wealth and cultural knowledge. Note the intricate ornamentation, teeming with mythological figures, stylized foliage, and grotesque masks. These visual codes speak to the humanist values prized by the elite in countries like France, where Delaune worked. The central scene is evocative. It's a reminder that art in this period wasn't just about beauty, it was about conveying stories, moral lessons, and reinforcing social hierarchies. To truly understand an object like this, we need to look beyond its aesthetic qualities. We need to delve into the social conditions that shaped its creation. This means exploring the history of patronage, the role of guilds and workshops, and the complex interplay between art, power, and social identity.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Mirrors were symbols of vanity, so it is appropriate that Étienne Delaune decorated the rim with the "Seven Planets," a theme that can suggest the passage of time. Each celestial body--not all are planets--is shown with its personification and zodiac sign. Clockwise from top, they are: the Sun and lion; Mars and ram; Jupiter and fish; Saturn and ram or goat; Moon and scorpion; Mercury and baby twins; and Venus and bull. All rest within a courtly framework of scrolls, faceted jewels, and cameo-like profiles. The central scene alludes to a more troubling side of vanity. It illustrates the episode in Greek myth when Medea used her magical arts to trick Pelias's daughters into boiling him in a pot of water in the belief he would become young again. Her beloved Jason repays Medea for this act (Pelias was Jason's enemy) by marrying another. An enraged Medea flies off in her serpent-drawn chariot, but not before killing her two children and Jason's bride.