Zeegod op dolfijn
1525
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
42; 27
About this artwork
verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240
Art Historical Context
Behold *Zeegod op dolfijn* (Sea God on Dolphin), a 1525 engraving by Barthel Beham, a master of the German Renaissance known among the "Little Masters" for his exquisite small-scale prints. This tiny gem, measuring just 42 mm high by 27 mm wide, captures a mythological sea deity riding a dolphin—a nod to classical antiquity revived during the Northern Renaissance. Beham, active in Nuremberg, drew from humanist interests in ancient myths, blending them with the era's intricate graphic artistry. Engraving was a revolutionary medium in the 16th century, allowing artists like Beham to achieve ast...
About the Artist
Barthel Beham · 1502–1540
Barthel Beham (1502–1540), a pivotal figure in the German Renaissance, was born in Nuremberg into a family of artists. The younger brother of the renowned engraver Hans Sebald Beham, he honed his craft under the tutelage of his elder sibling and the master Albrecht Dürer, absorbing the precise techniques of engraving and painting that defined Nuremberg's vibrant artistic scene. Emerging as a prodi...