1579
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Death of Adonis is a 1579 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a dramatic scene of a dying man lying on the ground, surrounded by nature. A winged figure hovers above him, holding a wreath. Below, a dog sniffs at the man’s body while a snake slithers nearby. The background is filled with trees, birds, and distant buildings, all drawn with sharp lines. The artist used fine details to show the man’s pain and the contrast between life and death. The lines are precise, creating shadows and texture without color. This is an example of engraving, a technique where artists carve into metal plates to make 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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