Unknown, 16th century;
nachHieronymus Bosch

Droll Figures

Blatt: 379 x 271 mm
Platte: 297 x 215 mm

Inventory Number: 63902a

Object Number: 63902a D

Acquisition: Acquired 1920

Status: On display, Department of Prints and Drawings Exhibition Gallery

Texts

About the Work

The fancifully grotesque figures are arranged one next to the other in several rows. They served to amuse and entertain the viewer, but also, as a kind of sample sheet, to provide inspiration to artists in inventing imagery of their own.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Droll Figures

Engraver

Unknown, 16th century;

Inventor

afterHieronymus Bosch

Production Place

Antwerp

Period Produced

16th century

Object Type

art print

Material

handmade paper

Technique

copperplate engraving

Label at the Time of Manufacture: Unten links: Ieron. nosch Iuent. ; unten rechts: Aux Quatre vents. ; unterhalb der Darstellung: Dese Ieronimus bosch drollen, lang gheprophiteert / siet, hoe elck sijnen strijt hier den sin, gheest. // Soo ongheschickt, nu oock tsweerelts strijt verabuijseert / alsoo dat elck vat, gheest wt, sulcks hij in, heest.

Captions Added Later: Verso unten links Stempel des Städelschen Kunstinstituts, Frankfurt am Main (Lugt 2356), mit zugehöriger Inventarnummer

Watermark: Wappen mit Buchstabe "B", Majuskel, zweikonturig, mit Krone und fünfblättriger Blüte

Work Catalogues: Hollstein (III) 35 I/II

Property and Acquisition

Work Content

Motifs and References

Iconclass

Primary

31A4222goblins, hobgoblins
31A45monsters of mixed human and animal shape; 'Mostri' (Ripa)
25FFfabulous animals (sometimes wrongly called 'grotesques'); 'Mostri' (Ripa)
46A7crowd, mob
43A372(+0)acrobat ~ circus (+ variant)
41A775wooden container: barrel, cask

Secondary

43C725(walking on) stilts
46C232rowing-boat, canoe, etc.
41D2334the feet shod unequally
31A61urination
41B1311bellows
41A7751container made of plant material other than wood: basket
44G321(GALLOWS)instruments of torture, execution or punishment: gallows
31E236219head of a beheaded person

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Last update

19.06.2026