1590
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Phaeton Asking for the Chariot is a 1590 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
Hendrick Goltzius shows a young man—Phaeton—begging his father, the sun god, for the sun chariot. The scene is packed with dramatic poses and strong, twisting bodies. Goltzius carved this in 1590 using engraving, a technique where a metal plate is cut with fine lines to hold ink. This engraving stands out for its drama and deep shadows. The muscles look almost alive under the careful lines. Goltzius studied earlier artists like Michelangelo for these lifelike figures. Want to see more like this? Find prints by Goltzius, Hendrick.
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
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