Napkin with herm, god and lions amidst acanthus leaves
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
Linen damask napkin with a herm, god, and lions amidst acanthus leaves. Central field: quatrefoils of floral bouquets with roses and scattered foliage. In the unframed quatrefoils, the bouquets, each placed on two acanthus volutes, are set diagonally. Corners: diagonally placed a herm with a Midas head (or donkey's head?), with musical instruments and thyrsus staffs. On the left and right, a facing lion, held in check by a winged young god (Apollo?) draped in drapery. Borders: without a dividing line, the field is surrounded by a broad border of symmetrical acanthus scrolls. Alternately, the deeply incised, feathered leaf volutes carry a basket of fruit and flowers, or they stand in two facing spirals that end in a ram's mask, above two flower branches and a pinecone.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description