Three sections (recto); uppermost with a Term and garlands; middle section geometric band; bottom section grotesques and strapwork; (verso) Term with a marine creature and putto 1540 - 1550

Andrés de Melgar created this pen and brown ink drawing titled "Three sections" during the late 16th century in Italy. Melgar was an artist who lived in a world steeped in the visual language of the Renaissance, where classical forms were constantly re-imagined to convey status and erudition. The sheet showcases Melgar’s detailed study of ornamentation. Each motif he has drawn—the garlands, the grotesques, and the figures—speak to the cultural values of his time, where power and beauty were often conveyed through elaborate symbolism. Notice how the drawing presents both human and fantastical figures that reflect an interest in classical mythology. Consider how Melgar’s draftsmanship captures the era's fascination with detail and symmetry, and how the drawing represents the era’s cultural norms while simultaneously allowing us to glimpse the creative process of an artist deeply embedded in the aesthetic ideals of his time.