Design for a Ewer — Virgil Solis (German, 1514–1562) | DiscoverArt

Design for a Ewer

1530–62

etching and engraving

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of August 2026

View at clevelandart.org ↗︎Plan a visit ↗︎

Discover

Your feed Blog Museums & galleries Saved works

You

Account Community guidelines

DiscoverArt

A taste-graph discovery engine for art. Every work shown is a real object in a real museum — artwork images courtesy of their institutions’ open-access programs.

© Discover Art 2026Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

The decoration and function of this ewer, or jug, relates to wine. The satyr on the front of the vessel, satyr heads at the handle and mouth, and birds and crayfish on the side are mythological or natural creatures associated with Bacchus and his revelries. The shape is derived from a Greek wine jug called an oinochoe. Made by Virgil Solis, who ran a busy printmaking workshop in Nuremberg, Germany, the print was a model for artists working in other media, such as silver.

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

More by Virgil Solis

St. John on the Island of Patmos

St. John on the Island of Patmos

Landscape with Saint John the Evangelist

Landscape with Saint John the Evangelist

A Greyhound in Profile Facing Left

Atalanta and Hippomemes, in the foreground Atalanta kneeling to pick up an apple and Hippomemes running with an apple in either hand, in the landscape background Atalanta running, from a series of four mythological scenes

Atalanta and Hippomemes, in the foreground Atalanta kneeling

Boar Hunt

Seven Liberal Arts

Seven Liberal Arts

Philosophy Enthroned

Philosophy Enthroned

Halberdier walking left and carrying a halberd over his left shoulder, two tents beyond, from the series 'Twelve soldiers of different ranks'

Halberdier walking left and carrying a halberd over his left

More like this

Jug with arabesques on the base

Hans Holbein the Younger|Wenceslaus Hollar — Jug with arabes

Jug decorated with arabesques

Hans Holbein the Younger|Wenceslaus Hollar — Jug decorated w

Pear-shaped Bottle with Trophy of Arms

Mathis Zündt (German, c. 1498–1572) — Pear-shaped Bottle wit

Design for a Silver- gilt Flask Decorated with Strapwork, Masks, Moresques

Erasmus Hornick|Anonymous, 16th century — Design for a Silve

Antique Lidded Vase with Two Handles emerging from the Heads of Hybrid Female Sphinxes, from Vases after the Antique

Enea Vico — Antique Lidded Vase with Two Handles emerging fr

Ornamental Vase

Wenzel Jamnitzer I (German, 1508/09–1585) — Ornamental Vase

Design for a Vase: two handles, no cover. In upper right corner, a smaller, simpler shape (recto); Part of a Chalk Drawing (verso)

Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 18th century — Design for a Va

Antique Ewer with a Handle in the Shape of a Lioness, from Vases after the Antique

Enea Vico — Antique Ewer with a Handle in the Shape of a Lio

Antique Ewer with a Handle in the Shape of Two Snakes coming from the Head of Medusa below, from Vases after the Antique

Enea Vico — Antique Ewer with a Handle in the Shape of Two S

Ewer

Anonymous, Italian, 19th century — Ewer

Ewer with Venus

René Boyvin — Ewer with Venus

Vase with a River God in an Oval Medallion

Claes Jansz. Visscher|René Boyvin|Rosso Fiorentino|Frederick