Artwork

Ewer Ornamented with Dolphins

Ewer Ornamented with Dolphins, by Enea Vico, 1543
Ewer Ornamented with Dolphins, by Enea Vico, 1543

Ewer Ornamented with Dolphins is a print by the Renaissance artist Enea Vico. It dates from 1543 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

This engraving shows a fancy metal ewer with two dolphins curling around its neck. Light dances on the curves. The dolphins look ready to leap right off the metal.

Vico was a printmaker, not a painter. He carved this in 1543 when he was just twenty. The lines are so crisp they could cut glass.

Look for prints by Marcantonio Raimondi to see similar skill.

Overview

Ewer Ornamented with Dolphins is an engraving created by Italian artist Enea Vico in 1543. It showcases a decorative ewer featuring dolphin motifs.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving depicts a metal ewer with two dolphins wrapped around its neck, conveying a sense of dynamic movement. The dolphins appear poised to leap off the vessel's surface.

Technique & Style

Vico's engraving is characterized by crisp, precise lines, demonstrating his skill as a printmaker. The work's level of detail is comparable to that of other renowned engravers, such as Marcantonio Raimondi.

History & Provenance

Enea Vico, born in Parma in 1523, produced this engraving at the age of twenty. He went on to create works for notable patrons, including Cosimo I de' Medici and Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara, before his death in Ferrara in 1567.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Enea Vico

Artist

Enea Vico

Enea Vico (29 January 1523 – 18 August 1567) was an Italian engraver. Vico was born in Parma. He specialized in grotesque engravings based on antique paintings. Vico made engravings for Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.