Venus and Adonis Hunting
1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Herman van Swanevelt
Herman van Swanevelt (1603–1655) was a Dutch artist, born in Woerden.
See the richer artist page1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Venus and Adonis Hunting is a 1628 ink by Herman van Swanevelt, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a wooded scene with two figures in the foreground. One person is bending over, maybe tying a shoe or adjusting a boot, while another stands nearby, holding what looks like a spear or staff. Behind them, a tree-lined forest stretches into the distance, with a river cutting through and mountains faintly visible in the far background. The sky is filled with swirling clouds, and the whole scene is drawn in bold, dark lines. The text at the bottom is in French and Latin, hinting at a story—likely from mythology—about Venus and Adonis. The artist used fine, precise lines to create depth and movement, especially in the trees and clouds. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this one made prints with acid and metal plates.
Herman van Swanevelt (1603–1655) was a Dutch artist, born in Woerden.
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