Unknown Artist, Design for a Circular Dish, 1500-1600, pen and brown ink and brown wash on paper, 6 1/4 in. x 6 1/4 in. (15.88 cm. x 15.88 cm.), This sheet is one of three in James Bowdoin III's bequest that is inscribed with the name of John Smibert and documents the artist's ownership of historic European drawings in early America. The drawing relates to the work of artists in Nuremberg, Germany and may have been meant for the foot or cover of a standing cup, a luxurious drinking vessel made of silver, carved stone, or other precious materials. A well-protected convoy with pack animals and livestock traverses, through expansive territories, toward a large encampment. The frieze faces outward to the viewer, which makes the previously suggested reading as a design for a dish unlikely. A richly decorated, mythological soapstone carving by Peter Flotner (1485--1546) at the Harvard Art Museums shows a circular design of similar size.
Keywords:
Unknown Artist, Design, Circular Dish, 1500-1600, pen, brown ink, brown wash, paper, 6 1/4 . x 6 1/4, 15.88 cm. x 15.88 cm., sheet, three, James Bowdoin III's bequest, inscribed, name, John Smibert, documents, artist's ownership, historic European drawings, early America., drawing relates, work, artists, Nuremberg, Germany, meant, foot, cover, standing cup, luxurious drinking vessel, silver, carved stone, precious materials., well-protected convoy, pack animals, livestock traverses, expansive territories, large encampment., frieze faces outward, viewer, makes, previously suggested reading, design, dish unlikely., richly decorated, mythological soapstone carving, Peter Flotner, 1485--1546, Harvard Art Museums, circular design, size
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