Artwork
The Visitation
The Visitation is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hendrick Goltzius. It dates from 1593 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right, in image, in plate: 1593 / HG; lower left, numbered in image, in plate: 2; below image, in plate: Plena Deo virgo, coelesti Pneumate foeta, / Cognatam Helisaben montana per aspera visit; / Exultat sterilis foecunda, exultat et infans / Iam tunc in gravidae genitricis ventre Prophetes. / F. Estius (The maiden, full of God, pregnant by the Holy Ghost, went through the barren mountains to visit her relative Elizabeth. The infertile pregnant woman rejoiced, as did the child, then already a prophet, in the pregnant mother's womb. F[ranco] Estius) [Latin translations from Leeflang, Huigen, and Ger Luijten. _Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617): Drawings, Prints and Paintings._ Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum, 2003, p. 210.]
About this work
Overview
The Visitation is an engraving on laid paper created by Hendrick Goltzius in 1558, exemplifying the artistic and technical prowess of the leading Dutch printmaker of the early Baroque/Northern Mannerism period.
Subject & Meaning
Depicting a scene from a Bible story, the engraving shows a somber meeting between two women, dressed in antiquated attire, conveying gravity through their expressions. The inclusion of meticulous details enhances the realism of the biblical narrative.
Technique & Style
Characteristic of Goltzius's inventive compositional approach, The Visitation showcases his mastery of engraving. The technique, consistently employed across his works, highlights his sophisticated artistic and technical skill.
History & Provenance
Created in 1558 by Hendrick Goltzius, a German-born Dutch artist, the engraving's provenance details are not specified in available information.
Context
The Visitation reflects the artistic tendencies of the early Baroque/Northern Mannerism period, with Goltzius at the forefront of Dutch engraving, influencing the development of printmaking in the region.
Legacy
As a work by the prominent Hendrick Goltzius, The Visitation contributes to the enduring legacy of Northern Mannerism in printmaking, though its specific impact or notable exhibitions are not detailed in the provided sources.
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.
