Artwork
Ornament with Two Sphinxes and a Winged Man
Ornament with Two Sphinxes and a Winged Man is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1528 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, making the shapes pop from the dark background.
This engraving shows two winged sphinxes facing each other, their bodies wrapped in swirling patterns. Between them sits a small winged man on a pedestal, holding a staff. The whole scene is framed by ornate scrollwork and a shield with the year 1528.
The sphinxes have human heads but animal bodies, a mix of strength and mystery. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, making the shapes pop from the dark background.
Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved detailed images into metal plates.
Overview
Lucas van Leyden’s 1528 engraving presents a decorative composition centered on a winged figure perched on a pedestal, flanked by two sphinxes. The scene is enclosed by elaborate scrollwork and a shield bearing the date, combining mythological elements with intricate ornamental design.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a diminutive winged man clutching a staff, is surrounded by two sphinxes that display human heads atop animal bodies, a traditional symbol of enigmatic strength. Their mirrored placement and the surrounding patterns suggest a balance between the earthly and the celestial.
Technique & Style
Executed in fine line engraving, van Leyden employs delicate hatching to model shadows and texture, allowing the forms to emerge from a dark background. The swirling motifs that wrap the sphinxes and the precise rendering of the scrollwork demonstrate his meticulous approach to metal plate work.
History & Provenance
Created in 1528, the print reflects van Leyden’s mature period as a leading Dutch printmaker. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is documented in early catalogues of his oeuvre and has been reproduced in collections of 16th‑century prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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