Geometric design for an ornamented ceiling

The artist, Daniel Hopfer (1470-1536) was born at Kaufbeuren, Germany and worked as an armourer in Augsburg, the leading centre for the manufacture of arms and armour. He transferred techniques used by gunsmiths to etch the barrels of guns into the production of graphic prints and developed the technique of etching, first working with iron plates. These were later replaced by copper plates as iron tended to rust. He was therefore the earliest artist to adapt the technique of etching on iron to printmaking and to make a profession out of it. 

This print is an ornamental design for ceiling decorations. A star-shaped design with children's faces at the centre is surrounded by triangular fields with cornucopiae, tendrils, masks and grotesque half-length figures. A sense of the excitement in creating early Renaissance ornament - ideally for decorative artists and craftsman to adopt in turn - really comes over in this print.

The first state from the iron plate was produced by the artist between 1505-1536. This impression is from the second state of the plate reprinted in the late 17th century by the publisher David Funck at Nuremberg. The Funck number '65' can be seen on the plate at upper left. It is signed with the artist's monogram at centre. A bound copy of this edition exists in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.

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

Dr Mark Stocker      Curator, Historical International Art         February 2017