Neptune

Neptune

Hendrik Goltzius

1592

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a muscular man sitting on a rock, wrapped in a flowing cloth. Above him, two small figures float in the air, holding something that looks like a wreath. The man has a beard, curly hair, and a serious expression, while the background has swirling clouds and a decorative frame with the word "NEPTVNVS" at the top. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, making the cloth and muscles look almost three-dimensional. This style was common in prints of the time. Try looking up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.

More by Hendrik Goltzius

Artifact World Gallery — 100,000 artworks Get the app