Bust of Janus 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 13/16 x 3 5/16 in. (12.2 x 8.4 cm) sheet: 7 3/8 x 5 5/16 in. (18.7 x 13.5 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
2012.136.341.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This intricate etching, *Bust of Janus surrounded strapwork*, captures the-faced Roman god of beginnings, gates, and transitions—symbolizing foresight and hindsight—in a profile inspired by ancient coins from the renowned collection of Abraham Ortel, the famed 16th-century Flemish cartographer. Created in 1573 as part of the series *Deorum dearumque (Images of Gods and Goddesses), it reflects the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity, where scholars and artists pored over coins to revive pagan deities for a modern audience. A collaborative masterpiece by Philips Galle, the van Doet...
About the Artist
Philips Galle|Johannes van Doetecum I|Lucas van Doetecum|Gerard van Groeningen|Hans Vredeman de Vries · 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...