Where can I see Pendant with Wheel at Centre, Surrounded by Four Table-Stones?

Pendant with Wheel at Centre, Surrounded by Four Table-Stones is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Pendant with Wheel at Centre, Surrounded by Four Table-Stones?

Pendant with Wheel at Centre, Surrounded by Four Table-Stones is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Pendant with Wheel at Centre, Surrounded by Four Table-Stones

Pendant with Wheel at Centre, Surrounded by Four Table-Stones is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Daniel Mignot. It dates from 1584 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Daniel Mignot’s 1584 engraving, titled *Pendant with Wheel at Centre, Surrounded by Four Table-Stones*, presents a symmetrical arrangement of ornamental light fixtures. At the composition’s heart lies a large, wheel‑shaped chandelier from which multiple lamps descend, while four smaller, similarly detailed pendants occupy the lower quadrants, each embellished with swirling motifs and diminutive lights.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a decorative scheme for interior illumination, likely intended as a design reference for metalworkers or architects. The central wheel motif, surrounded by subsidiary pendants, reflects the Renaissance fascination with geometric harmony and the integration of functional lighting within elaborate ornamental frameworks.

Technique & Style

Mignot employed fine cross‑hatching throughout the engraving, layering dense parallel lines to render deep shadows and convey the texture of metal. The precise, linear quality of the drawing resembles a technical draft, emphasizing the intricate details of each chandelier’s arms, scrollwork, and suspended lamps.

History & Provenance

Created in 1584, the work belongs to the late‑Renaissance period when printmaking served both artistic and practical purposes. While specific ownership records are scarce, the engraving has been catalogued among Mignot’s surviving prints, which are held in several European print collections.

Context

During the late sixteenth century, the demand for elaborate lighting fixtures grew alongside the rise of grand domestic interiors and courtly spaces. Engravings such as this one functioned as pattern books, disseminating design ideas across workshops throughout Europe.

Legacy

Mignot’s detailed renderings contributed to the visual vocabulary of ornamental metalwork, influencing subsequent designers who adapted his motifs for actual chandeliers and decorative furnishings in the Baroque era.