Foliage Scrolls with a Flower, Wild Men and Women, and Insects, Israhel van Meckenem, c. 1490 - c. 1500

engraving, h 208mm × w 139mm More details

Medieval stories abound with tales of wild men and women – mythical woodland dwellers – who indulge in excessive sexual activity. The highly imaginative flower in the middle of the representation illustrates the pleasure to which humans and animals aspire. Men and women help one another to achieve it, while others fight each other for it.

Identification

Title(s)

Foliage Scrolls with a Flower, Wild Men and Women, and Insects
Ornamentele bloem met wildemannen en -vrouwen

Object type

Object number

RP-P-OB-1145

Catalogue reference

The Illustrated Bartsch 207
Hollstein German 624-2(2)
Orn Cat I 362

Inscriptions / marks

collector's mark: Lugt 240

Description

Een grote bloem met zes wildemannen en twee wildevrouwen tussen de bladeren. Links en rechts banderollen met Latijnse tekst in gotische letters. Bovenop de bloem twee insecten.