Pluto; on verso sketches of a figure, four heads, and a column
Original title: Pluto; on verso sketches of a figure, four heads, and a column
kurzbeschreibung
Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld, appears in a 1592 engraving by Hendrick Goltzius, set within a niche of classical architecture. The recto was executed as an engraving, while the verso carries sketches in red chalk. The sheet belongs to the artist's series of depictions of the gods.
Description
Barefoot, Pluto stands in a semicircular niche flanked by columns. A shoulder-free, rippling tunic wraps his body; his hair is curly and a beard frames his face. His right hand holds a crown, and his gaze turns to the left. Above the niche frame, two angels hover in agitated poses. The background lies in darkness while the foreground appears bright. The layout is symmetrical and focuses on the figure.
Context
Goltzius made the sheet in Haarlem in 1592, where he worked as one of the leading engravers of his day. It counts among a series of god depictions modeled on classical prototypes. The red chalk sketches on the verso are studies that presumably served other works. Such series were highly popular with collectors and helped spread knowledge of mythology.
Impact
Monumental and solemn, the scene feels weighty, not least because of the symmetrical niche architecture. The contrast between the dark ground and the bright figure draws the eye to the details of musculature and drapery folds. The angels above the frame give the image a dynamic, almost theatrical note.
Technique
The recto was made as an engraving, with lines cut into a copper plate. Goltzius used fine hatching to model light and shadow and to bring out the texture of skin and cloth. On the verso are sketches in red chalk that look loose and spontaneous.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)