Who painted Apollo Killing Coronis?

Apollo Killing Coronis was painted by Hendrick Goltzius in 1600.

Where can I see Apollo Killing Coronis?

Apollo Killing Coronis is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Apollo Killing Coronis?

Apollo Killing Coronis is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Apollo Killing Coronis?

Museum-quality prints of Apollo Killing Coronis are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Apollo Killing Coronis

Hendrick Goltzius , 1600

Apollo Killing Coronis is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hendrick Goltzius. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:in plate, across lower edge: Fama malum pernix, tu Thumbice indice corvo / In tam dilectam tela cruena iacis / Interit illa quidens formosa coronis, et albas / Inter aeres non est iam tibi corve locus

About this work

Overview

Around 1600 Hendrick Goltzius, a German‑born artist who worked in the Dutch Republic, produced the engraving Apollo Killing Coronis on laid paper. The print belongs to the early Baroque period, often described as Northern Mannerism, and exemplifies Goltzius’s reputation for precise, highly detailed line work.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a moment from Greek myth in which the god Apollo, armed with a bow and spear, confronts Coronis, who lies on the ground with her head supported by her hand. The composition juxtaposes the goddess’s calm, reclined posture with the god’s tense, winged figure, suggesting the tragic climax of divine retribution.

Technique & Style

Executed by engraving, the work was incised on a copper plate and printed onto laid paper, allowing Goltzius to render fine, parallel lines that model light, shadow, and texture. The intricate hatching creates depth in the foliage, clouds, and the figures’ musculature, while the crisp outlines emphasize the dramatic tension of the scene.

History & Provenance

Goltzius was recognized as the pre‑eminent Dutch engraver of his generation, and Apollo Killing Coronis reflects his mature style. The print circulated among collectors of the early seventeenth century, though specific ownership records are sparse; it remains a representative example of his mythological series.

Context

The engraving aligns with the broader European fascination with classical subjects during the Baroque era, when artists often revisited mythological narratives to explore themes of power, fate, and morality. Goltzius’s Northern Mannerist approach combines elaborate composition with a heightened sense of movement, situating the work within contemporary artistic currents.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Hendrick Goltzius

Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.