Phaeton Asking for the Chariot

Art Historical Context

**Phaeton Asking for Chariot** (1590) is a captivating engraving from the workshop of Goltzius, the renowned Dutch Mannerist artist, faithfully reproducing his original design. The scene draws from Ovid's *Metamorphoses*, depicting the youthful Phaeton boldly petitioning his divine father, the sun god Apollo (Helios), to drive the chariot of the sun—a fateful request that would lead to cosmic disaster. Goltzi, a Haarlem master known as the "Dutch Michelangelo" for his virtuosic line work, infused Northern Mannerism into prints like this, blending Italianate drama with intricate Dutch precision. Crafted as an engraving on laid paper—a period staple with its textured chain lines—this intimate plate (18.5 x 26 cm) showcases the technique's power: fine burin incisions on a metal plate create swelling, muscular contours and shimmering highlights, mimicking the sheen of paint. Goltzius's workshop excelled at such reproductive prints, making high-art mythology accessible to collectors across Europe during the late 16th century's print boom. This National Gallery of Art treasure, gifted from Leo Steinberg's estate, highlights engraving's role in spreading Renaissance humanism and classical lore. Visitors will admire how Goltzius's dynamic poses and emotional intensity capture the hubris and tragedy of ancient myth, bridging antiquity with early modern innovation.