Artwork
Coat of Arms with an Eagle
Coat of Arms with an Eagle is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Sebald Beham. It dates from 1543 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sebald Beham, a Nuremberg‑born painter and printmaker, produced the engraving *Coat of Arms with an Eagle* in 1543. The work belongs to the small‑scale, highly detailed prints for which Beham and his contemporaries, often called the “Little Masters,” are noted.
Subject & Meaning
The image centers on a heraldic shield displaying an eagle perched atop a globe, its wings outstretched and one talon clutching a sword. The composition combines traditional symbols of power and authority, rendered with meticulous attention to the bird’s plumage and the surrounding ornamental elements.
Technique & Style
Beham executed the design by incising a copper plate, employing dense cross‑hatching to model shadows and texture across the surface. The fine, intersecting lines create a crisp contrast that emphasizes the metallic sheen of the armor, the feathered plumage, and the intricate background patterns.
History & Provenance
Created for commercial distribution, the plate was printed and sold by printers who reproduced Beham’s design. The original metal plate remains undocumented, but surviving impressions are held in several European print collections, reflecting the work’s circulation in the mid‑16th‑century market.
Context
Beham’s output follows the legacy of Albrecht Dürer, yet his prints are distinguished by their diminutive size and ornamental focus. The engraving exemplifies the Little Masters’ emphasis on precision and decorative detail, catering to a clientele interested in collectible, portable artworks.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
