Jupiter en Alcmene
c. 1537 - c. 1555
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
172; 134
About this artwork
verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228
Art Historical Context
**Jupiter en Alcm** is a captivating engraving by Cornelis Bos, a prominent Dutch artist active in Antwerp during the mid-16th century (c. 1537–1555). Measuring just 172 × 134 mm, this intimate print depicts a classic scene from Roman mythology: Jupiter, king of the gods, disguised Alcmene's husband Amphitryon to seduce, resulting in the birth of the Hercules. Bos, known for his intricate reproductive prints inspired by Italian Renaissance masters like Michelangelo, infused Northern European precision with classical themes, reflecting the era's humanist revival of antiquity. Engraving as a me...
About the Artist
Cornelis Bos · 1510–1556
Cornelis Bos (c. 1506/10–before 1555), a Netherlandish engraver, printseller, and publisher born in 's-Hertogenbosch, emerged as a pivotal figure in the Antwerp print trade during the mid-16th century. His early life remains sparsely documented, with no records of formal training or mentors, though he was active in Antwerp by 1537, producing his earliest known engraving, *Prudence and Justice*, af...