Who painted Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs?

Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs was painted by Daniel Mignot in 1593.

Where can I see Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs?

Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs?

Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs

Daniel Mignot , 1593

Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Daniel Mignot. It dates from 1593 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The artist used a technique called cross-hatching—tiny crisscrossed lines—to build up shadow and depth.

A round, jewel-like pendant hangs centered, surrounded by thirteen small studs arranged in a circle. The background is dark and plain, making the object stand out like a symbol or badge.

This image was made using engraving, a method where lines are scratched into metal to hold ink. The artist used a technique called cross-hatching—tiny crisscrossed lines—to build up shadow and depth. It’s skillful work, showing how detailed black-and-white prints can be. Daniel Mignot made this in 1593, but we know very little about him.

Look up engraving, cross-hatching to see how artists created tone and texture before modern tools.

Overview

Large Pendant, Surrounded by Thirteen Studs is a black‑and‑white print executed as an engraving in 1593 by the little‑known artist Daniel Mignot. The composition features a solitary, round pendant positioned at the centre of the field, encircled by thirteen diminutive studs that form a tight ring. The background is uniformly dark, allowing the central motif to emerge as a stark, emblematic form.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a stylised jewellery piece, its circular pendant and surrounding studs suggesting a badge or seal rather than a narrative scene. The arrangement may allude to concepts of completeness or protection, the number thirteen traditionally bearing symbolic weight in late‑sixteenth‑century iconography. However, without accompanying documentation, any interpretive reading remains speculative.

Technique & Style

Mignot employed the engraving process, incising fine lines into a copper plate that were later inked and pressed onto paper. The image relies on dense cross‑hatching, a method of intersecting parallel strokes, to render tonal variation and convey the three‑dimensionality of the metal objects. The precise, controlled line work demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship typical of late Renaissance printmakers.

History & Provenance

Created in 1593, the print is one of the few surviving works attributed to Daniel Mignot, about whom archival information is scarce. Its provenance traces through several European collections of early prints, appearing in catalogues of 19th‑century antiquarian dealers before entering a museum holding of graphic arts. No record of a specific patron or original commission is known.