Plate 2: Jupiter; statue of the nude god seated on an eagle, holding a double trident; from 'Statues of Roman Gods' after Jacques Jonghelinck
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 9 13/16 × 6 3/8 in. (25 × 16.2 cm)
Classification
Prints|Prints-Fete
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.601.20(114)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *Plate 2: Jupiter from the series *Statues of Roman Gods* (1586), an exquisite engraving by Philips Galle after sculptures by Jacques Jonghelinck. This print captures a majestic nude statue of Jupiter, Roman king of the gods, seated triumphantly atop his sacred eagle while wielding a double trident—a symbol blending divine authority with martial power. Measuring about 9 13/16 × 6 3/8 inches, the trimmed sheet exemplifies the precision of 16th-century engraving, technique that allowed Galle, a leading Antwerp printmaker, to reproduce intricate sculptural details with fine lines and tonal...
About the Artist
Philips Galle|Jacques Jonghelinck|Philips Galle · 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...