Targhe ed altri ornati di varie e capricciose invenzioni (Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 4) 1773

Jacob Floris created this engraving, “Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 4,” in the mid-16th century. It is a design for an ornamental panel, teeming with fantastical creatures and architectural elements. Floris worked in Antwerp, which at this time was a vibrant center for artistic exchange, where the Italian Renaissance style was being adapted to local tastes and traditions. This print reflects that moment, combining classical motifs with a playful, Northern European sensibility. Notice how Floris uses the visual vocabulary of classical ornament. Also observe how he populates his design with hybrid figures which suggests a culture grappling with new ideas about nature and the human. As art historians, we can look to period pattern books and architectural treatises to understand how designs like these were disseminated and used by craftsmen. By studying the social and economic context of 16th-century Antwerp, we can better appreciate the role of art in shaping cultural identity and taste.