Nereid Ridden by Two Children, plate six of Twelve Ornament Panels
1505/15
Medium
Engraving on grayish ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Plate: 55 × 8.9 cm (21 11/16 × 3 9/16 in.); Sheet: 55.2 × 10.6 cm (21 3/4 × 4 3/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23448
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This engraving comes from a series of columnar panels based on architectural sculpture from the 14th century. The set of 12 could be cut out and used as wall decorations or framing devices. The many mythological creatures in this series, such as the Triton and Nereid, exemplify the grotesque decorative style that was popular at the time. Palaces, tombs, and villas in this style were unearthed around Rome and Naples, especially the Emperor Nero’s Domus Aurea palace, which had ancient wall paintin...