Phoebus Telling Vulcan of His Wife's Adultery
1530
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1530
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Phoebus Telling Vulcan of His Wife's Adultery is a 1530 ink by Hans the Younger Collaert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows two muscular men in a dramatic scene. The older man sits on a rock, holding a spear, while the younger one stands beside him, bowing slightly. Behind them, smaller figures—some holding tools—watch from a rocky background. The border is packed with swirling vines and strange shapes, framing the whole scene like a stage. The younger man’s star-like hair and the older man’s fierce expression hint at a story of betrayal. The tiny Latin text at the bottom adds mystery—it’s like a secret message about the scene. Want to see more like this? Check out engraving to learn how artists carved these sharp details.
Hans the Younger Collaert (1595–1605) was an artist.
See the richer artist page
