Ornament met mascaron en Ornamenteel cartouche met ondergaande zon 1727

Bernard Picart created this print, Ornament met mascaron en Ornamenteel cartouche met ondergaande zon, sometime between 1693 and 1733, using etching. The print contains ornate designs, a mascaron, and a cartouche showing a sunset. It was made in the Dutch Republic during a time when art and design flourished under a wealthy merchant class. Ornament prints like this served as guides for artisans, influencing the design of furniture, architecture, and luxury goods. The classical motifs and intricate detailing reflect the period’s fascination with ancient Greece and Rome, a cultural trend that was actively promoted by academic institutions. The setting sun in the lower cartouche is inscribed with the Latin text ‘Soli OrbiARRANT GLORIAM DEI’. This text connects earthly beauty to divine glory. To fully appreciate Picart's work, one might explore the engraver's other works, study books of ornament, and delve into the social and economic conditions that fostered such artistic production. Only then will we start to understand the ways in which design shapes and is shaped by the world around it.