1596
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Cult of Venus is a 1596 ink by Jan Pietersz Saenredam, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a group of figures in a rocky landscape. On the left stands a tall, bare-chested woman holding a torch and a wreath, her hair loose. Around her, smaller figures—some kneeling, some reaching up—look toward her or the sky. The lines are sharp and detailed, with lots of shading to show folds in clothing and muscles. The woman’s torch and the way the others gather around her suggest she’s important. The scene looks like it’s inspired by stories from ancient times, not everyday life. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists create such precise lines.
Jan Pieterszoon (abbr. Pietersz.) Saenredam (c. 1565 – 6 April 1607) was a Dutch Northern Mannerist painter, printmaker in engraving, and cartographer, and father of the painter of church interiors, Pieter Jansz…
See the richer artist page
