Horizontal Panel with Three Birds, from Varii Generis Opera Aurifabris Necessaria
ca. 1600
Medium
Engraving; second of two states (SKB)
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 7/16 × 2 1/16 in. (3.7 × 5.3 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.600.82
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled within the intricate world of Renaissance ornamentation, *Horizontal Panel with Three Birds is a exquisite engraving by Paul Birckultz, created around 1600. This tiny print—measuring just 1 7/16 × 2 1/16 inches—forms part of *Varii Generis Operaifabris Necessaria*, a pattern book essential for goldsmiths and metalworkers. As the second of two states, it showcases refined details achieved through the meticulous burin work of engraving, a technique prized for its precision in reproducing complex motifs on metal plates. The composition features a horizontal panel alive with three gracefu...