Woman seated with arms outstretched, personification of Fame with trumpet at right, set within an elaborate frame

Art Historical Context

This enchanting etching, titled *Woman Seated with Arms Outstretched Personification of Fame withet at Right, Set within an Elaborate Frame*, captures the exuberant spirit of 16th-century Mannerism. Created around 1540–80, it depicts a central female figure in a dynamic pose, arms extended in gesture, flanked by the allegorical Fame blowing her trumpet—a Renaissance symbol of renown and glory. The composition is framed by intricate architectural motifs, blending human forms with ornate decoration, evoking the grandeur of classical antiquity revived during the period. Attributed to a stellar trio of artists—Venetian Mannerist Andrea Schiavone (Andrea Meldola), Battista Angolo del Moro, and French architect-engraver Jacques Androuet du Cerceau—this print exemplifies collaborative printmaking in Renaissance Europe. Etching, a relatively new technique at the time, allowed for delicate, fluid lines ideal for ornamental designs, making such works affordable models for artisans crafting furniture, walls, or books. Classified under Prints: Ornament & Architecture at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it reflects how these small-scale sheets (just 5 1/8 × 7 1/8 in.) disseminated sophisticated motifs across workshops from Italy to France. These prints weren't just art; they fueled the decorative arts revolution, inspiring goldsmiths, stucco workers, and builders. Gaze closely at the trumpet and flowing drapery—hallmarks of Mannerist elegance—and imagine this design adorning a nobleman's palazzo, whispering eternal fame to passersby.

About the Artist

Andrea Schiavone (Andrea Meldola)|Battista Angolo del Moro|Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau · 1510–1563

Andrea Schiavone, born Andrea Meldolla around 1510 or 1515 in Zara (modern Zadar, Croatia), in Venetian-ruled Dalmatia, hailed from a family rooted in Meldola near Forlì in Romagna, Emilia-Romagna. His father, Simon Meldolla, served as a garrison commander there, and both parents originated from Meldola, where the family held property into the early 16th century. Nicknamed "Schiavone"—"the Slav"—a...