Head of Satyr and Three Figures, from "Ex Antiquis Cameorum et Gemmae Delineata/ Liber Secundus/et ab Enea Vico Parmen Incis"

Art Historical Context

This engraving, titled *Head of Satyr and Three Figures*, comes from a seventeenth-century publication documenting ancient cameos and gems. Published around 1599–1622 and associated with the work of Enea Vico of Parma, the print captures classical motifs—prominently a satyr’s head alongside nude male and female figures—in a compact format typical of scholarly volumes that circulated among collectors and antiquarians. Such books helped preserve and disseminate knowledge of Greco-Roman art during a period of renewed interest in antiquity. Created as an engraving in its third state, the work showcases the precision of the medium, with fine lines rendering the textured surfaces of carved gems and the dynamic poses of mythological beings. The small plate size (roughly 3½ by 4⅞ inches) made it ideal for inclusion in illustrated treatises, allowing viewers to study details of ancient craftsmanship that were otherwise accessible only to those who owned the originals. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece reflects the collaborative efforts of artists including Battista Franco and Philippe Thomassin. It offers a window into how Renaissance and Baroque scholars used printmaking to bridge the ancient and modern worlds, celebrating the enduring appeal of satyrs and classical nudes.

About the Artist

Francesco Angeloni|Battista Franco|Philippe Thomassin|Enea Vico|Anonymous, Italian, 16th century (Italian|Italian|French|Italian|Italian) · 1559 |1510 |1562 |1523 |1500 –1652 |1561 |1622 |1567 |1600

Terni 1559 or 1587–1652 Rome|Italian, Venice ca. 1510–1561 Venice|French, Troyes 1562–1622 Rome|Italian, Parma 1523–1567 Ferrara|