This is a drawing of three fantastical figures in elaborate and fanciful costumes. The drawing features three figures; the first is dressed in a detailed scale-like pattern covering the body and head, holding a stick and an object resembling a head with exaggerated facial features. The second figure is central in the composition, adorned with a patterned skirt, cape, and an ornate headpiece, holding a scepter with three flaming candles on top and has a theatrical mask-like face. The third figure is on the right, dressed in flowing robes and a hat, with facial features that appear exaggerated and comical. The style and attire suggest a depiction of allegorical or theatrical characters, accentuating drama and the surreal.
Read the visual description

This is a drawing of three fantastical figures in elaborate and fanciful costumes. The drawing features three figures; the first is dressed in a detailed scale-like pattern covering the body and head, holding a stick and an object resembling a head with exaggerated facial features. The second figure is central in the composition, adorned with a patterned skirt, cape, and an ornate headpiece, holding a scepter with three flaming candles on top and has a theatrical mask-like face. The third figure is on the right, dressed in flowing robes and a hat, with facial features that appear exaggerated and comical. The style and attire suggest a depiction of allegorical or theatrical characters, accentuating drama and the surreal.

National Gallery of Art · Print

An Old Mummer Addressing a Couple Dressed in Feathers

Attributed to Zacharias Dolendo after Jacques de Gheyn II

Date
1595/1596
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 23.6 x 17 cm (9 5/16 x 6 11/16 in.) sheet: 39.9 x 27.4 cm (15 11/16 x 10 13/16 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
2004.21.10
Credit line
New Century Fund
Time span
1501 to 1550
Department
CG-E

Portfolio and series

Series
The Masquerades

Subjects and terms

  • Dutch
  • Costume
  • Hat
  • Mask
  • animal
  • Figures
Provenance

Château de la Roche-Guyon, France (part of an album)1; (Paul Prouté S.A., Paris); purchased by NGA, 2004. 1 The album was bound in vellum, with "Abraham" on the cover and "Ligeoys" on the back cover. The Château de la Roche-Guyon stamp was on some of the pages, which included a variety of northern mannerist prints by Goltzius, Matham, Saenredam, and others. Compiled by 1610, it was apparently dismantled by Prouté before the sale of some of the prints to the NGA.

Inscription

lower left in plate: IDGeijn. Inuen. et excu.; lower left in plate: 10

NGA object ID 129883. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.