Polidoro Da Caravaggio (follower of) - Ornamental study with trophies of arms Pen. brown ink, graphite and white lead highlights on paper 19.5 x 20.2 cm Ornamental study depicting a complex composition of military trophies, plumed helmets, shields and decorative motifs in the antique style set around a large architectural cartouche. The rigorously symmetrical structure of the ensemble and the rich antiquarian repertoire directly recall the Roman decorative culture developed by Polidoro da Caravaggio in the first half of the 16th century. The work shows clear affinities with the ornamental studies conceived by the artist for wall decorations, friezes and façade decorations, characterised by a language strongly influenced by the rediscovery of antiquity and Raphael's lesson. In particular, the artist's taste for trophies of arms, celebratory compositions and antique elements finds significant comparisons with folios conserved in major international collections, including the famous Design for a Painted Frieze with Arms and Armour from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.The subtlety of the graphic line, the calibrated use of white lead highlights and the illusionistic construction of the ornamental elements testify to the high quality of the sheet, which can be fully included in the decorative repertoire developed by Polidoro during his Roman years, when the artist developed a personal interpretation of archaeological models and ancient reliefs.