De vier elementen
Jacob Savery (I)
1584 - 1603
Medium
etching
Dimensions
135
About this artwork
ets
Art Historical Context
**De vier elementen (The Four Elements)** by Savery I (c. 1565–1603) is a captivating etching from the 16th to early 17th century, created between 1584 1603. This, circular print—measuring just 135 mm in diameter—embodies the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity and the natural world. Savery, a Flemish artist from the Savery family based in Antwerp, masterfully depicts the four classical elements: earth, water, air, fire. Such allegorical themes were popular in Northern European art, symbolizing the fundamental forces of the universe and often personified as female figures amid sym...