Artwork
Ornamental Design for Coffered Ceiling
Ornamental Design for Coffered Ceiling is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Daniel Hopfer. It dates from 1524 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ornamental Design for Coffered Ceiling is an etching on laid paper by Daniel Hopfer, a German artist active in the early 16th century.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a coffered ceiling composed of intricately carved wooden panels, serving as a design guide for builders and craftsmen rather than a representation of an actual ceiling.
Technique & Style
Hopfer employed etching, a technique he helped pioneer, to achieve precise lines and detailed ornamentation in black and white, reflecting his background in decorative arts and printmaking.
History & Provenance
As an early adopter of etching, Hopfer initially worked with iron plates, adapting methods from steel plate armor production, and contributed to the development of print publishing as a commercial enterprise.
Artist & collection
Artist
Daniel Hopfer (c. 1470 – 1536) was a German artist who is widely believed to have been the first to use etching in printmaking, at the end of the 15th century. He also worked in woodcut. Although his etchings were…
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