Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Hans Brosamer in 1540.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Untitled

Hans Brosamer , 1540

Untitled is a print by the Renaissance artist Hans Brosamer. It dates from 1540 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Hans Brosamer’s print presents two designs for covered drinking vessels, each rendered with a moulded rim and a decorative band of scrolling acanthus leaves. The upper design features modest, shallow flutes, while the lower cup displays a more pronounced, bulging profile with deeper ridges and sharper leaf forms. Both exemplify the early Renaissance approach to ornamental metalwork.

Subject & Meaning

The compositions illustrate the revival of classical motifs that characterized the 15th‑century Italian decorative vocabulary. By employing the acanthus—a plant motif widely used in ancient Roman architecture—the designs convey a continuity with antiquity, reflecting the period’s fascination with classical ideals and the desire to embed them in everyday objects such as cups.

Technique & Style

Brosamer’s print employs line engraving to delineate the moulded contours and the intricate foliage. The acanthus leaves are rendered with a rolling, rhythmic pattern that echoes the hand‑carved reliefs found in contemporary goldsmithing. The stylised, repetitive nature of the ornament aligns with the broader Renaissance practice of adapting classical motifs for decorative purposes.

History & Provenance

Produced in the early 1500s, the print functioned as a pattern source for artisans across various crafts, especially goldsmiths who adapted the designs for metal vessels from the mid‑17th to the late‑18th century. Such ornamental prints facilitated the diffusion of stylistic trends throughout Europe, linking Italian Renaissance aesthetics with later decorative traditions.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hans Brosamer

Hans Brosamer was a German draughtsman, printmaker and painter of the Renaissance period. His life has left hardly any documentary trace, other than his prints, but he was active in Fulda from 1536 to 1545, and later worked in Erfurt.