A mask held by two genii

Sebald Beham (popularly called Hans Sebald Beham) (1500-1550) was a prolific early Renaissance German printmaker. Born in Nuremberg and therefore a fellow citizen of Albrecht Dürer, he spent the second half of his career in Frankfurt. He was one of the most important of the so-called 'Little Masters' (Henrich Aldegrever was another), the group of German printmakers initially inspired by Dürer, who continued to flourish into the mid-16th century. The intimate scale of their works, rather than these impressive artists being overshadowed by the brilliant Dürer, explains their name.

Beham produced approximately 252 engravings, 18 etchings and 1500 woodcuts, including woodcut book illustrations. He worked extensively on tiny, highly detailed, engravings, many as small as postage stamps, which he printed and published himself, while his much larger woodcuts were mostly commissioned work. The engravings found a ready market among German collectors. He also made prints for use as playing cards and wallpaper. His engravings cover a range of subjects, but he is especially known for scenes of peasant life, and scenes from classical myth or history, both often with an erotic element.

A mask held by two genii is one of the better known small prints made by Beham which has apparently served as the basis for decoration of objects such as clocks, locks, cups, ceramics, stained glass windows, boxes, cabinets, swords, etc. This engraving also conveys the vibrancy and excitement of the then very recent northern Renaissance. At the bottom, Beham has signed the work fairly prominently with his initials, an indication that leading artists - such as himself - had succeeded in raising the status of their profession.

See:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebald_Beham

Dr Mark Stocker     Curator, Historical International Art                              January 2017