Bust of a woman in profile facing right, set within an elaborate frame with putti

Art Historical Context

This elegant etching from around 1540–80 captures a refined female profile set within an ornate architectural frame adorned with playful putti. Created through the delicate medium of etching, the work reflects the Renaissance fascination with classical motifs and decorative design. The small sheet, measuring just 5 by 7 inches, showcases intricate linework that highlights the woman's serene features alongside the lively cherubs, blending portraiture with ornamental fantasy. Attributed to Andrea Schiavone alongside Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau and Battista Angolo del Moro, the piece exemplifies the collaborative printmaking culture of 16th-century Europe. Such designs often served as models for architecture, metalwork, or interior decoration, spreading Mannerist elegance across Italy and France. The Metropolitan Museum’s acquisition through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund underscores its value as a rare surviving example of ornamental prints that bridged fine art and applied design. Visitors can appreciate how the profile format evokes ancient Roman cameos while the surrounding frame adds a sense of movement and whimsy, inviting contemplation of beauty, mythology, and craftsmanship in one intimate composition.

About the Artist

Andrea Schiavone (Andrea Meldola)|Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau|Battista Angolo del Moro · 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...