L'Enfer des Beautés Cruelles, plate 5 from "The Decameron"

Art Historical Context

Visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of's Prints collection will delight in *L'Enfer des Beaut Cruelles, plate from "The Decameron"*, a captivating 1873 etching by French artist Léopold Flameng, illustrating Giovanni Boccaccio's iconic 14th-century masterpiece. Boccaccio's *Decameron*, written amid the Black Death, weaves 100 tales of love, wit, and human folly told by young Florentines escaping plague-ridden Italy. This plate evokes the sensual and satirical "hell of cruel beauties," capturing the work's earthy humanism and moral intrigue through Flameng's masterful linework. Printed as a "proof before letter"—an early state without text or titles—this etching highlights the technical brilliance of 19th-century French printmaking. Etching, using acid to bite intricate designs into a metal plate, allowed Flameng to achieve delicate shading and dramatic contrasts on the modest 8 9/16 × 7 3/8 in. sheet. Acquired via the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1917, it reflects the era's revival of medieval literature, blending Renaissance storytelling with Romantic-era precision. This artwork bridges centuries, inviting us to ponder timeless themes of desire and deception while showcasing etching's role in democratizing art through affordable reproductions. A gem for literature and print enthusiasts alike!

About the Artist

Giovanni Boccaccio|Léopold Flameng (Italian|French) · 1313 |1831 –1375 |1911

Italian, Paris 1313–1375 Certaldo, Tuscany|French (born Belgium), Brussels 1831–1911 Paris