Apollo was painted by Jost Amman in 1580.

Where can I see Apollo?

Apollo is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Apollo?

Apollo is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Apollo

Jost Amman , 1580

Apollo is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Jost Amman. It dates from 1580 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1580, this drawing by Jost Amman depicts the classical figure Apollo. Executed with pen and black ink on laid paper, the work belongs to the artist’s corpus of mythological subjects and exemplifies the late‑Renaissance interest in antiquity.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on Apollo, the Greek god of music, poetry and the sun, rendered in a stylized manner typical of Amman’s approach to mythic themes. The figure’s attributes and pose convey the deity’s cultural associations without narrative detail, inviting contemplation of his symbolic role.

Technique & Style

Amman employed fine pen lines and dense cross‑hatching to model form and suggest volume on the textured surface of laid paper. The monochrome palette emphasizes line work and chiaroscuro effects, reflecting the Germanic drawing traditions of the late sixteenth century.

History & Provenance

The drawing dates to circa 1580, a period when Amman was active in Basel and Zurich producing illustrative works for books and patrons. Its later ownership record is limited, but it remains attributed to Amman based on stylistic analysis and documented catalogues of his drawings.