Architecture & Design · 19th century
€ 290
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Rich, saturated color. Mild edge toning and a faint spot in the margin.
Renaissance Medallions & Mythological Grotesques – Classical Ornament, Pl. LIV
This striking chromolithograph, Plate LIV from *L'Ornement Polychrome* (Paris, circa 1869), presents a refined collection of Renaissance grotesques and medallion motifs inspired by ancient Roman and classical themes. Designed to educate and inspire 19th-century decorators, this plate offers a meticulously rendered display of scrollwork, architectural friezes, and grotesque ornamentation typical of the Italian Renaissance revival.
At the center is a richly colored framed medallion with a profile portrait of a Roman figure, flanked by symmetric vegetal scrolls and crowned with a large red “S,” evoking both imperial and heraldic symbolism. Surrounding it are diverse panels featuring fantastic birds, hybrid beasts, winged cherubs, dolphins, sphinxes, and urns, each integrated into stylized vegetal frameworks.
Medallions in each corner contain sculpted heads and urns in high-relief illusion, reminiscent of ancient bronze or marble plaques. The color palette is both bold and harmonious—deep blacks and reds contrast beautifully with pastel greens, sky blues, and golds.
The grotesques—human-animal hybrids, putti, and floral scrolls—are executed in the tradition of Raphael’s Vatican loggias, themselves inspired by the Domus Aurea discoveries in Rome. These panels blend myth, nature, and fantasy, forming a comprehensive study in decorative opulence.
Lithographed by Durin and printed by Firmin-Didot, this plate exemplifies the masterful reproduction of Renaissance motifs for modern design application and scholarly preservation.
Ideal for collectors of architectural ornament, students of design history, or those seeking a dramatic and colorful print to frame.
Condition: Excellent. Rich, saturated color. Mild edge toning and a faint spot in the margin.
Framing tips: A deep gold or antique black frame with a neutral or red-toned mat will highlight the classical character and bring out the rich palette.
Technique: Chromolithograph
Maker: Firmin-Didot, Paris, after Durin, c.1869
