Plate 4: equestrian statue of Caligula, seen three-quarters to the left, wearing a winged helmet and holding double-headed arrows, a military scene in the background, from 'Roman Emperors on Horseback'
Medium
Engraving, squared in graphite
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 12 5/8 × 8 9/16 in. (32.1 × 21.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.95.1002(4)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the grandeur of ancient Rome through *Plate 4: e statue of Caligula from the series *Roman Emperors on Horseback*, exquisite engraving produced around 1587–89. Designed by the inventive Flemish artist Jan van der Stra, known as Stradanus and masterfully engraved by Philips Galle and Adria Collaert, this captures the Northern Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity. Part of a celebrated series from Antwerp's vibrant printmaking hub, it measures about 12½ by 8½ inches and is squared in graphite, hinting at its use as a transferable model for artists or decorators. The image p...
About the Artist
Philips Galle|Adriaen Collaert|Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus · 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...