Spes (copy)
late 17th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 9 1/8 x 6 7/16 in. (23.2 x 16.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.601.336(74)
Tags
Art Historical Context
"Spes (copy)" is a delicate engraving from the late 17th century, attributed to Hendrick Goltzius, Joannes de Ram, or an anonymous Dutch artist. The title refers to *Spes*, the Latin personification of Hope, a common allegorical figure in European art. Rendered on a modest sheet measuring 9 1/8 x 6 7/16 inches, this print likely draws from Goltzius's influential Mannerist style—known for its elegant lines, dynamic poses, and intricate detailing—though as a copy, it reflects the widespread reproduction of his designs during the Dutch Golden Age. Engraving, the medium here, was a hallmark of 17...
About the Artist
Hendrick Goltzius|Joannes de Ram|Anonymous, Dutch, 17th century · 1558–1617
Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617) was the most celebrated engraver of the Northern Renaissance and a pivotal figure in Dutch Mannerism. Born near the German-Dutch border, Goltzius transformed printmaking into a virtuoso art form through his revolutionary 'swelling line' technique, where the burin was manipulated to create lines of varying thickness that produced unprecedented tonal effects and three-d...