Artwork
New ABC Booklet: S
New ABC Booklet: S is a print by the Baroque artist Lucas Kilian. It dates from 1627 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1627 by Augsburg‑born engraver Lucas Kilian, this printed page forms part of a 17th‑century alphabet booklet. The sheet centers on a lavishly rendered capital “S”, surrounded by ornamental motifs that give the composition a dynamic, baroque rhythm. The piece is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The focal point is an elaborately decorated letter S, whose swirling forms incorporate a small cherubic figure on the left and a stylized dragon on the right. These allegorical elements, common in early modern emblem books, suggest a blend of innocence and power, inviting viewers to contemplate the symbolic resonance of the alphabetic character.
Technique & Style
Kilian employed fine line engraving to achieve a high level of detail, using contrasting dark ink against a light‑toned paper background. The intricate interlacing of curves, foliage, and figurative motifs demonstrates the baroque taste for movement and theatricality, while the precise incisions reveal the artist’s mastery of the etching process.
History & Provenance
The print originates from the workshop of the Custos Press, a publishing house founded by Kilian’s stepfather, where the engraver produced portraits, mythological scenes, and anatomical plates. After circulating as part of an educational alphabet series, the sheet entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings, where it remains accessible for study of early modern print culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Kilian (Lucas Kilianus Augustanus; 1579–1637) was a German engraver and etcher from the Kilian family of engravers in Augsburg.
