Kandelaber, midden onder staat het borstbeeld van een vrouw c. 1525 - 1594

This is an etching on paper, made by the German artist Hans Sibmacher, sometime before 1611. In this complex composition, Sibmacher plays with fantastical creatures, human figures, and architectural details. The image seems to present an idea for metalwork or jewelry design. Sibmacher worked in Nuremberg, a city known for its printmaking, especially pattern books used by artisans. These books served as a visual resource and a means of disseminating artistic ideas across Europe. The presence of classical motifs suggests the influence of the Italian Renaissance on German art and material culture. Note the mythological figures, which would have been recognizable symbols associated with specific stories and values. Art historians examine these images in relation to the social and economic structures of the time. Who were the patrons who commissioned such works? How did these images circulate, and what impact did they have on the development of decorative arts? The answers lie in researching the history of printmaking, the patronage system, and the material culture of early modern Europe.