About this work

This image features intricately designed ornate letters of the alphabet surrounded by elaborate illustrations. The top of the composition shows a cherub riding on an eagle, holding a crown above their head. A ribbon with inscriptions unfurls around the crown, and a sun with a human face is visible in the corner. The letters "A," "F," "D," "H," and another "H" are decorated with classical elements like putti, garlands, and mythological figures. The central panel is adorned with heraldic symbols, angelic figures, and coats of arms. The overall style of the artwork reflects baroque or renaissance decorative artistry, known for its ornamental details and classical themes.

Description from the National Gallery of Art.

Robert Nanteuil made this. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

How it was made

Engraving: Lines cut directly into a metal plate with a steel burin, which makes them swell and taper. It took years to master, and for centuries it was how paintings travelled as pictures.

Robert Nanteuil

French, 1623–1678

See all 2 works by Robert Nanteuil

Rights and the museum’s record

Public domain. The National Gallery of Art has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.

Object number: 1943.3.6431
Credit: Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
Type: Print
Licence: CC0 1.0 Universal
Museum record: See it on the museum’s site

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