Who painted Clymene Urging Phaeton to Find Helios?

Clymene Urging Phaeton to Find Helios was painted by Hendrik Goltzius in 1589.

Where can I see Clymene Urging Phaeton to Find Helios?

Clymene Urging Phaeton to Find Helios is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Clymene Urging Phaeton to Find Helios?

Clymene Urging Phaeton to Find Helios is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Clymene Urging Phaeton to Find Helios

Hendrik Goltzius , 1589

Clymene Urging Phaeton to Find Helios is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hendrik Goltzius. It dates from 1589 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The print, executed as an engraving on laid paper, portrays a tense encounter beneath a sprawling tree.

About this work

Overview

The print, executed as an engraving on laid paper, portrays a tense encounter beneath a sprawling tree. A woman, identified as Clymene, implores the young Phaeton to seek out his father Helios, while both figures direct their gazes upward. Architectural fragments frame the scene, and a luminous sky hints at the divine realm that looms beyond the earthly setting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition draws from the myth of Phaeton, son of the sun‑god Helios, who seeks his paternal lineage. Clymene’s urgent gesture and Phaeton’s receptive stance convey a moment of pleading and anticipation, emphasizing themes of filial duty and the peril of overreaching ambition. The upward focus underscores the celestial destination that the narrative anticipates.

Technique & Style

Rendered through fine line engraving, the work exhibits the intricate cross‑hatching and tonal modulation characteristic of late‑Renaissance printmaking. The artist’s handling of light—particularly the radiant backdrop—creates depth and atmosphere, while the detailed rendering of foliage and architectural motifs reflects the influence of Hendrick Goltzius’s elaborate ornamental approach.

Context

Produced during a period when mythological subjects were popular in Northern European print circles, the piece reflects the era’s fascination with classical narratives rendered for a broad audience. Engravings such as this circulated widely, serving both educational and decorative purposes, and contributed to the diffusion of classical stories beyond manuscript illumination.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hendrik Goltzius

Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.