Coat of Arms with an Eagle

Artists who made small-scale prints, such as these engravings by Hans Sebald Beham, were called Kleinmeisters (Little Masters) in Germany. Beham was a prodigious printmaker whose diverse subject matter included biblical themes, historical scenes, portraits and landscapes. He was also interested in Renaissance architectural and ornamental elements, as seen in the scrolling acanthus leaves, dolphins’ heads and putti of the Double Goblet and Ornament Scroll. The artist worked closely with his brother, Bartel Beham (1502–1540), sharing motifs derived from classical antiquity, and was also influenced by prints by the well-known artist Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528). Beham created many prints to be used for functional objects such as playing cards, title pages, patterns for craftsmen and coats of arms, such as the two shown here.