1572
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Piramides Aegypti (The Pyramids of Egypt) is a 1572 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a busy scene around two towering pyramids. In the foreground, a bearded man with wings on his back points upward while workers haul blocks and dig. Smaller figures climb the pyramids, and an eagle flies above. The pyramids cast long shadows, and the background has a distant city with obelisks. The text at the top reads *Piramides Aegypti*, and the bottom has Latin words describing the pyramids’ construction. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and depth, making the scene feel detailed. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made precise prints.
Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.
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