The Circumcision
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 47.5 x 35.4 cm (18 11/16 x 13 15/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1994.21.1
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Circumcision*, a masterful 1594 engraving by Dutch artist Hendrik Goltzius, crafted in the meticulous style of Albrecht Dür. This poignant depiction of the biblical rite from the life of Christ captures the intimate family moment with profound emotional depth, set against a simple interior that draws the viewer into the sacred narrative. Printed on laid paper—a period-specific medium with its characteristic chain lines visible under light—the sheet measures 47.5 x 35.4 cm, now housed in the National Gallery of Art thanks to the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund. Goltzius, a virtuoso of the ...