Artwork
The Fall of Phaeton
The Fall of Phaeton 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:lower center in plate: Exurit pontum et terras Clymeneia ... / ... grauatus Atlas
About this work
Overview
The Fall of Phaeton is a circa 1600 engraving on laid paper by Hendrick Goltzius, a prominent Dutch printmaker and draftsman of the early Baroque/Northern Mannerism period.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates the myth of Phaeton, son of Helios, who loses control of the sun chariot and falls to earth, conveying a scene of chaotic downfall.
Technique & Style
Goltzius employed cross-hatching to achieve depth and texture, characteristic of his technical mastery. The composition features multiple figures in dynamic poses against a dramatic, darkened sky with clouds and a crescent moon.
History & Provenance
Created around 1600 by Hendrick Goltzius, a German-born Dutch artist renowned as the leading engraver of his time.
Context
Part of the Northern Mannerism/early Baroque period, this work reflects the artistic trends of the late 16th to early 17th centuries in Europe.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of The Fall of Phaeton are not provided, Goltzius's overall body of work influenced subsequent generations of Dutch and European printmakers.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
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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