Artwork

"Do Not Eat Your Heart Out" [fol. 22 recto]

"Do Not Eat Your Heart Out" [fol. 22 recto], by French early 16th Century, ink, 1514
"Do Not Eat Your Heart Out" [fol. 22 recto], by French early 16th Century, ink, 1514

"Do Not Eat Your Heart Out" [fol. 22 recto] is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist French early 16th Century. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. “Do Not Eat Your Heart Out” is a pen and brown ink drawing enhanced with watercolor on laid paper, catalogued as folio 22 recto.

About this work

Overview

“Do Not Eat Your Heart Out” is a pen and brown ink drawing enhanced with watercolor on laid paper, catalogued as folio 22 recto. The composition presents five figures arranged closely, each dressed in exaggerated costume elements, and includes textual banners that label the scene with Latin terms such as *Solicitudo* and *Curialis*.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a robed man clutching a bag, appears anxious, while the surrounding characters wear whimsical headgear—a horned crown, a tall hat topped with a flask, and other fanciful adornments. A vivid red heart hangs from a chain around one figure’s neck, drawing attention to themes of desire, anxiety, or moral instruction rendered in a satirical tone.

Technique & Style

The work combines precise pen work in brown ink with selective watercolor washes, a method common among Renaissance draftsmen for adding tonal depth without obscuring line. The laid paper surface retains a textured quality, allowing the artist to delineate fine details in costume and inscription while using color sparingly to highlight focal points such as the heart.

Context

The drawing belongs to a manuscript or sketchbook context, suggested by the presence of Latin banners and the folio numbering. Its exact origin, creator, and ownership history remain undocumented, but the medium and stylistic choices align with Northern European practices of the late 15th to early 16th centuries, when allegorical and didactic imagery often employed humor to convey moral lessons.

Artist & collection

Portrait of French early 16th Century

Artist

French early 16th Century

A French draftsman from the early 1500s filled sheets of laid paper with tiny, sharp-tongued instructions—ink sketches paired with warnings like “Do Not Eat Your Heart Out” or “Feed Not Things That Have Sharp Claws.”…

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