Phaeton's Sisters Changed into Poplars, and Cygnus into a Swan

Goltzius rendered the scene with fine, precise lines that define the flowing drapery of the robes, the delicate plumage of the swan, and the intricate foliage of the trees. Careful cross‑hatching creates tonal depth, especially in the faces and the surrounding woodland, demonstrating the artist’s skill in translating intricate detail from metal plate to paper.

Created in 1589, the print reflects Goltzius’s position as the pre‑eminent Dutch engraver of his generation. While the original plate’s whereabouts are not recorded, surviving impressions are held in several European print collections, attesting to the work’s circulation among collectors of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

The engraving belongs to a broader trend in Northern Mannerism that favored elaborate narrative scenes drawn from antiquity. Goltzius often combined classical subjects with a heightened ornamental style, aligning his work with contemporary tastes for learned, visually intricate prints.