Blemmyae - Ulisse Aldrovandi, 1642. (Mythology Wall Art)
This vintage art print shows a Blemmyae, the famous “headless man” where the face sits on the chest. It is strange in a way that still feels calm, almost like a museum page. The lines are clean, the figure is easy to read, and the warm parchment look makes it work as wall art in a study, hallway, or anywhere you like old curiosities in your home decor.
About this art print
This print comes from Ulisse Aldrovandi’s Monstrorum Historia (1642.), part of the early modern habit of collecting “reported” creatures, unusual bodies, and travel stories into one printed record. The Blemmyae idea shows up again and again in older writing: a people described as having no head, with eyes and mouth placed on the chest. It is less about real anatomy and more about how Europeans pictured distant places before modern science and travel made the world feel familiar.
Aldrovandi’s version is drawn in a steady, matter of fact way. The figure is shown simply and clearly, with the chest-face placed front and center so you notice it right away. The rest of the body is kept plain, which makes the strange part feel even stranger. It’s the same quiet, matter-of-fact approach you see in Child With Three Skulls, where the whole idea is carried by one simple, focused image.
Craft & finish
This Blemmyae vintage art print is made on hand-processed paper, highlighted with subtle gold and sealed with beeswax for an authentic parchment feel. Please note that colors can look slightly different from screen to screen.
You can find more pieces like this in our Vintage Art Prints collection.
Blemmyae (Ulisse Aldrovandi, 1642.) - Vintage Art Print
In case your print creases during the travel, as it usually does travel for some time, you can safely warm it up with a hair-dryer, and the wax will melt back right into it. You can also use a lighter, which is a much faster method, but be careful to keep the flame either above the paper or parallel to it (which means holding the paper vertically) so it doesn't smudge or even catch fire. The chance of the print actually creasing is very small, as they are rolled in bubble-wrap and shipped in a cardboard box. Also, be sure to keep the print out of the direct sunlight, as it can melt or fade.
Visit the link below to see more about how our replicas are made, how to display them, and repair the damage:
https://www.artifex-replicas.com/post/about-our-parchment-replicas
