Mars, from "The Planets"

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, where we encounter *Mars, from "The Planets"*, an exquisite engraving created around 1597 by Jacob Matham after designs by Hendrick Goltzius. These two Haarlem masters—Goltzius, a leading figure in Northern Mannerism, and his talented pupil Matham—collaborated on this small yet powerful print, measuring just 4¼ x 2⅞ inches. Engraving, a meticulous intaglio technique where lines are incised into a copper plate and inked to transfer to paper, allowed for intricate details and multiple impressions, making fine art accessible beyond original paintings. This piece belongs to Goltzius's renowned *Planets* series, personifying the classical god of war, Mars, amid a Renaissance fascination with mythology, astrology, and cosmology. Goltzius's dynamic style shines through in the muscular figure and dramatic poses, blending Italian influences with Northern precision—his engravings were so lifelike they rivaled paintings. Mars, armored and fierce, evokes the era's blend of pagan gods and emerging scientific views of the heavens. Generously bequeathed by Phyllis Massar in 2011, this gem highlights printmaking's role in disseminating humanist ideals across Europe. Pause here to admire how such a tiny sheet captures cosmic power—perfect for contemplating humanity's place in the stars!

About the Artist

Jacob Matham|Hendrick Goltzius · 1571–1631

**Jacob Matham: Master Engraver of Haarlem** Jacob Matham was born on October 15, 1571, in Haarlem, in the Northern Netherlands, into a burgeoning artistic milieu. Following his father's early death, his mother married the renowned painter and engraver Hendrick Goltzius in 1579, who adopted the young Jacob and trained him rigorously in the workshop as his stepson and pupil. Matham's first signed ...