Arcus and Callisto

Art Historical Context

"Arcus and Callisto is a captivating engraving depicting a dramatic moment from classical mythology, likely drawn from Ovid's *Metoses*. Here, the hunter Arcus (Arcas), armed with bow and arrow, confronts a bear—his mother Callisto, transformed by the goddess Juno's jealousy. The tags of hunting, bears, and men evoke the tension of pursuit and unintended tragedy, frozen in intricate lines that highlight muscular forms, dynamic poses, and the wild forest setting. Created by Hendrick Goltzius, a leading Dutch Mannerist engraver, with Robert Willemsz de Baudous, this print exemplifies the virtuoso techniques of late 16th-century Northern European printmaking. Goltzius pioneered the "swelling line," a bold, expressive stroke that mimics the effects of drawing while allowing precise details in engravings. Measuring about 7 by 10 inches on the plate, such intimate works were designed for collectors, spreading mythological narratives through affordable reproductions. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the bequest of Phyllis Massar in 2011, this piece underscores the Renaissance fascination with antique stories and the power of prints to preserve them. It invites visitors to ponder themes of fate, transformation, and familial bonds amid the thrill of the hunt.

About the Artist

Robert Willemsz de Baudous|Hendrick Goltzius (Netherlandish|Netherlandish) · 1574 |1558 –1659 |1617

Netherlandish, 1574/5–1659|Netherlandish, Mühlbracht 1558–1617 Haarlem