A man and woman offering a platter of coins to a king seated on a throne, set within an elaborate frame
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 5 1/16 × 7 1/16 in. (12.8 × 18 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1926
Accession Number
26.70.3(212)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This intricate etching, titled *A Man and Woman Offering a Pl of Coins to a Kingated on a Throne, within an Elaborate Frame*, dates to around 1540–80 and showcases a rare collaboration among three Renaissance masters: the Venetian Mannerist Andrea Schiavone (Andreaola), Battista Angolo Moro, and the French architect-engraver Jacques Androuet Du Cer. Measuring just over 5 by 7 inches, the trimmed sheet captures a ceremonial scene of tribute—profiles of a king enthroned, flanked by a man and woman presenting coins—encased in a richly detailed architectural frame. As a print in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it exemplifies 16th-century ornamental design. Etching, a technique gaining popularity in this era for its fluid lines and tonal depth, allowed artists to reproduce elaborate motifs for architects, craftsmen, and collectors. Classified under Ornament & Architecture, this work likely served as a model for decorative panels, furniture, or wall ornamentation, blending narrative symbolism—evoking loyalty and tribute—with grotesque-style frames inspired by antiquity. The multi-artist attribution highlights the era's collaborative print culture, where Italian flair met French precision. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1926, this gem invites visitors to appreciate how Renaissance prints democratized opulent design, bridging courtly pomp and everyday artistry.
About the Artist
Andrea Schiavone (Andrea Meldola)|Battista Angolo del Moro|Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau · 1510–1563
Andrea Schiavone, born Andrea Meldolla around 1510 or 1515 in Zara (modern Zadar, Croatia), in Venetian-ruled Dalmatia, hailed from a family rooted in Meldola near Forlì in Romagna, Emilia-Romagna. His father, Simon Meldolla, served as a garrison commander there, and both parents originated from Meldola, where the family held property into the early 16th century. Nicknamed "Schiavone"—"the Slav"—a...