Artwork
Ignis (Fire)
Ignis (Fire) 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: IGNIS, seu flammans, caelo qui proximus, Aether; / Materia altisono fulminis unde Iovi: / Flammarum immodicus vi multa uritq[ue] necatque; / Ast modicus grato multa calore fovet. (Fire, or the blazing Ether, near to heaven; Whence [comes] to sublime Jove the substance of fine: Beyond measure, by the power of flames, he burns and destroys many things; But keeping a proper measure, with pleasing heat he fosters many things.) [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.49.]) / Corn. Kil. Duffl. / Adrian. Collaert inuent. sculp. et excud.
- Markings
- Marked:none
About this work
Overview
Ignis (Fire) is a 1587 engraving on laid paper by Adriaen Collaert, depicting a dynamic scene centered around a powerful, bearded figure amidst symbolic and elemental imagery.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving features a muscular, god-like man holding a flaming torch and a baby, surrounded by smaller figures, some winged or tool-wielding, within a circular frame. The composition contrasts a dramatic, lightning-filled sky with a ruined temple below, symbolizing the transformative power of fire, as further emphasized by the explanatory Latin inscription.
Technique & Style
Collaert employed sharp lines and nuanced shading in the engraving to imbue the mythological scene with a sense of vitality. The technique of engraving, which involves carving detailed designs into metal plates for printing, was utilized to achieve the work's intricate visual details.
History & Provenance
Created in 1587, the provenance of Ignis (Fire) is not detailed here, focusing instead on its creation by Adriaen Collaert during the late 16th century.
Context
Produced in a period rich with mythological and allegorical art, Ignis (Fire) reflects themes common in late 16th-century European art, leveraging classical motifs to convey elemental themes.
Legacy
While specific influences or direct artistic legacies of Ignis (Fire) are not outlined, it represents a continuation of traditional engraving techniques used to explore mythological and symbolic subjects during its time.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
