Schenkkan met Neptunus 1628 - 1732

This print depicts a ewer, a large pouring vessel, adorned with a scene of Neptune. It was made by an anonymous artist through the etching process. In etching, a metal plate is coated with a waxy ground, and then the artist draws through the ground with a needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating an image that can be printed. The artist has managed to make a very convincing copy of the ewer, complete with the textures of the metal. What is remarkable is the detail of the original object: note the way that the various mythological figures have been worked in the round, and the fine chasing work on the surface of the ewer itself. The production of such an object would have been a highly skilled process, requiring the collaboration of many artisans, and of course a patron rich enough to commission the piece. The print allows us to appreciate the elaborate design and craftsmanship that went into this object, blurring the line between art and craft.