Apollo Presiding Over the Arts of Government
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 25.5 × 17.8 cm (10 1/16 × 7 in.) sheet: 35.5 × 25.2 cm (14 × 9 15/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ruth and Jacob Kainen Memorial Acquisition Fund
Accession Number
2022.31.4
Art Historical Context
In the late 16th century, during the Northern Renaissance's Mannerist flourish in the Dutch Republic, Jan Pietersz Saenredam crafted this exquisite engraving *Apollo Presiding Over the Arts of Government* (1596) after a design by the renowned Hendrick Goltzius. Goltzius, a leading figure in Haarlem's artistic circle, was celebrated for his dynamic compositions and innovative printmaking, while Saenredam excelled as a reproductive engraver, faithfully translating paintings and drawings into intricate prints. This 25.5 × 17.8 cm plate on laid paper—evident in its textured chains and wires—exempl...