Fragment of Ornamental Drawing after the Antique; Half-harpy with Acanthus Rinceaux 1500 - 1575

This is a pen and ink drawing on paper by Andrés de Melgar, a Spanish artist born in 1554. Dated between 1500 and 1575, the drawing shows a fragment of an ornamental design. It features a half-harpy, a mythical creature with the head and wings of a bird and the body of a woman, set against a background of scrolling acanthus leaves. The acanthus leaves, a common motif in classical art, are rendered in a swirling, organic style, creating a sense of movement and energy. This detailed drawing is typical of the intricate and stylized decorative art of the Renaissance period.