The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 14, 2026

A vertically oriented engraving in black ink depicts a man and a woman with light skin tones seated beneath a vine arch. On our left, a woman in a headscarf gazes down at a small monkey. To her right, a man in a floppy hat looks toward her, resting his hand on hers. A potted plant stands to our left, while a pitcher sits in a basin to our right. Small W at the bottom.

The Lovers

c. 1490

Wenzel von Olmütz

(Bohemian)

after Master of the House-Book

(German, c. 1470–1500)

after Hausbuch Master

(German, active 1470–1500)
Germany
engraving
Image: 16.7 x 10.9 cm (6 9/16 x 4 5/16 in.); Sheet: 16.9 x 11.3 cm (6 5/8 x 4 7/16 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2010.262
Catalogue raisonné: Bartsch, vol. VI, pp. 336-37, no. 48; Lehrs, pp. 79-80, no. 68; Passavant, vol. 2, p. 134, no. 48
Location: Not on view

Description

In this image, a man and woman sit facing one another; the woman casts her eyes down shyly as the man makes a tender touch, an invitation to love. This artist pared down a garden of love to an arbor with a low fence, a vase of flowers,
and a basin of water holding a jug of wine and cup. The love displayed in the garden is chaste, as intended. This is apparent by the wine in the water bath, suggesting cooled desire; the carnations in the vase, symbols of virginity; and the woman’s small dog, a sign of fidelity.
  • Grafen Maltzan, Militsch (Lugt 3024a)
    Nicholas Stogdon, Islip, Oxfordshire
    ?–2010
    Adrian Eeles, London, England, sold to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    November 29, 2010–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Mann, C. Griffith. "Acquisitions 2010." Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine 51, no. 2 (March/April 2011): 10-27. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 25 archive.org
    Glaubinger, Jane and Lemonedes, Heather. “Treasures on Paper: The Crème de la crème of the museum’s prints and drawings collection is now on view.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine 54, no. 2 (March/April 2014): 6-9. Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 7 archive.org
  • Love Gardens / Forbidden Fruit. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 2-October 29, 2023).
    Imagining the Garden. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 24, 2015-March 6, 2016).
    Treasures on Paper from the Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 9-June 8, 2014).
  • {{cite web|title=The Lovers|url=false|author=Wenzel von Olmütz, Master of the House-Book, Hausbuch Master|year=c. 1490|access-date=14 May 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2010.262