Bust of Bacchus surrounded by strapwork, from the series' Deorum dearumque,' a set of images of deities after coins in the collection of Abraham Ortelius
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
plate: 4 3/4 x 3 3/16 in. (12 x 8.1 cm) sheet: 7 3/8 x 5 3/16 in. (18.8 x 13.2 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.341.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite etching, *Bust of Bacchus by strapwork*, captures Roman god of wine—known for revelry and ecstasy—in a classical profile bust, framed by intricate Renaissance strapwork motifs resembling woven leather straps. Created in 1573 as part of the series *orum dearumque*Of Gods and Goddesses"), it draws directly from ancient coins in the renowned collection of Abraham Ortelius the pioneering Flemish cartographer whose atlas *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum* revolutionized mapmaking. These prints bridged antiquity and the Renaissance, reviving classical imagery for 16th-century audiences fascina...
About the Artist
Philips Galle|Gerard van Groeningen|Johannes van Doetecum I|Lucas van Doetecum · 1537–1612
Philips Galle (1537–1612) was a leading Netherlandish engraver, designer, and print publisher whose career bridged the vibrant artistic scenes of Haarlem and Antwerp. Born in Haarlem, he studied under the humanist engraver Dirck Volkertsz. Coornhert, honing his skills in reproductive printmaking. Early on, Galle produced engravings after the Haarlem master Maarten van Heemskerck, capturing the Man...