Title Page, from Des Pendants de Cleffs pour les Femmes

Art Historical Context

This delicate title page belongs to *Des Pendants de Cleffs pour les Femmes*, a series of ornamental designs created by Johann Theodor de Bry between 1580 and 1600. A leading figure in late-Renaissance printmaking, de Bry specialized in finely detailed engravings that served as pattern books for goldsmiths and jewelers. The small sheet—measuring just over three inches—demonstrates the precision of engraving combined with blackwork, a technique that fills areas with dense, lace-like patterns to suggest texture and shadow. Mythological creatures animate the composition: griffins, a sphinx, and satyrs twist among scrolling foliage, their forms suited to the curving shapes of pendants and keys intended for women’s adornment. Such fantastical motifs were fashionable in Mannerist decorative arts, blending classical mythology with inventive ornament to appeal to courtly and wealthy patrons across Northern Europe. As part of the Metropolitan Museum’s renowned collection of ornament prints, this work highlights how engraved designs traveled between artists and craftsmen, shaping the jewelry and metalwork of the period. Its modest size belies its influence, offering today’s visitors a glimpse into the collaborative world of Renaissance design.

About the Artist

Johann Theodor de Bry · 1561–1923

Comment on works: copper engraver