Candlestick 1525 - 1600

This print of a candlestick was made in France around 1565 by René Boyvin, a printmaker who was part of the artistic circle around the School of Fontainebleau. Boyvin’s image presents us with a highly ornate candlestick, adorned with human and animal figures. The artist was producing images for a courtly, wealthy clientele. Note how this candlestick is an elaborate display of wealth and status. In sixteenth-century France, images like this one circulated amongst artists and patrons, influencing taste and style. They also document the increasing sophistication of the decorative arts during this period, as well as the growing influence of Italian Renaissance aesthetics on French art and culture. Art historians consult a range of sources, including prints such as this one, to understand the social and institutional contexts in which art is made and consumed. This approach allows us to move beyond simple aesthetic appreciation.