Artwork

Title Page for Hubert Goltzius, Romanae et Graecae Antiqvitatis Monvmenta (Opera Omnia, I)

Title Page for Hubert Goltzius, Romanae et Graecae Antiqvitatis Monvmenta (Opera Omnia, I) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Cornelis Galle I. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This engraving serves as the title page for Hubert Goltzius's 'Romanae et Graecae Antiqvitatis Monvmenta', a work compiled into 'Opera Omnia, I'. Created by Cornelis Galle the Elder, it showcases his skill in design and execution.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a chaotic, dynamic composition featuring muscular figures in various states of action. A centrally placed robed woman holds a book, surrounded by winged and armed figures, with some characters in contorted poses and others falling or defeated.

Technique & Style

Executed in engraving on laid paper as a proof before letters, the work demonstrates Galle's mastery of the medium. Sharp lines convey a sense of movement and drama, characteristic of Northern European printmaking in the 17th century.

History & Provenance

Cornelis Galle the Elder, trained by his father Philip Galle and later refined in Rome, produced this engraving in 1645. It reflects his development as an engraver and printseller in Antwerp.