Design for a Frontispiece, Allegory of America

A pen and ink design drawing on paper framed by a green-toned mat. Two seated female allegorical figures, one holding a spear and one holding a bow and arrow, flank a bull's head at the top. Below, an empty oval cartouche is flanked by two medallion portraits in profile and ornamental scrolls and masks.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1590

Medium

Graphite, pen and brown ink, red chalk, brush and gray wash on white paper lined with heavy laid paper

Source

Smithsonian (Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum)

Size

2240 × 1676 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Smithsonian Institution, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum