Artwork
Aër (Air)
Aër (Air) is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Adriaen Collaert. It dates from 1587 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:in margin below image, in plate: Mobilis, & rerum per cuncta meabilis AËR, / Afflatu alituum promovet omne genus: / Commotus nimbos tempestatesque minatur, / Tranquillus terris aequoirbusq[ue] favet. (Mobile Air, passable through all things, By his nourishing breath causes every species to advance: Aroused, he puts forth rain-storms and tempests, Tranquil, he favors lands and seas.) [translation from Melion, Walter S. and James Clifton_Through a Glass Darkly: Allegory & Faith in Nethlerlandish Prints from Lucas van Leyden to Rembrandt._Atlanta: Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, 2019, p. 51.]) / Corn. Kil. Duffl. / Adrian Collaert invent sculp & excud
- Markings
- Marked:none
About this work
Overview
Aër (Air) is an engraving on laid paper created by Adriaen Collaert in 1587.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a nude male figure, possibly a deity, standing on a cloud amidst a dynamic scene. He holds a lizard and is surrounded by cherubs, with a cityscape and mountains below, and birds flying above. A battle is visible in the background, adding to the overall sense of energy.
Technique & Style
The engraving features cross-hatching, which adds depth and texture to the image, capturing the dynamic movement and energy of the scene.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
