Artwork
Cup
Cup is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Wenzel Jamnitzer I. It dates from 1546 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The etching 'Cup' is a print created by Wenzel Jamnitzer in 1546. It showcases the artist's expertise in rendering intricate metalwork.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a ornate silver cup adorned with raised dots, evoking the technique of granulation. This decorative style transforms the ordinary vessel into a fantastical object.
Technique & Style
Jamnitzer's etching skillfully captures the play of light on the cup's surface, mimicking the effect of real metalwork. The use of granulation, a technique commonly employed in goldsmithing, is characteristic of Jamnitzer's workshop style.
History & Provenance
Wenzel Jamnitzer, a prominent goldsmith and printmaker, worked primarily in Nuremberg, serving as court goldsmith to successive Holy Roman Emperors. He came from a family of goldsmiths and trained alongside his brother before passing on the craft to his son.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wenzel Jamnitzer (sometimes Jamitzer, or Wenzel Gemniczer) (1507/1508 – 19 December 1585) was a Northern Mannerist goldsmith, artist, and printmaker in etching, who worked in Nuremberg.
