Artwork
Saint Philip
Saint Philip 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.
About this work
Overview
Around 1589, Hendrick Goltzius, a German‑born artist active in the Dutch Republic, produced an engraving titled Saint Philip. Executed in black‑and‑white, the print presents a solemn, bearded figure holding a staff and clutching an object to his chest, set against a faintly rendered backdrop of clouds or smoke.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays Saint Philip, a disciple from Christian tradition, and includes a Latin inscription, “Descendit ad inferna, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis,” linking the figure to the narrative of descent into the underworld and resurrection on the third day. This textual element reinforces the saint’s association with themes of death and rebirth.
Technique & Style
Goltzius employed fine, closely spaced lines and delicate hatching to model form and create atmospheric depth. The intricate line work, characteristic of Northern Mannerist engraving, renders the drapery, hair, and background with a high degree of precision, demonstrating the artist’s technical virtuosity.
History & Provenance
The engraving belongs to the early Baroque period in the Netherlands, when Goltzius was regarded as the pre‑eminent engraver of his generation. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work has circulated among collections of prints that document the development of Dutch printmaking in the late sixteenth century.
Context
Saint Philip reflects the period’s religious climate, marked by the Counter‑Reformation’s emphasis on visual depictions of saints and martyrdom. Goltzius’s choice of a devotional subject aligns with the demand for prints that could be widely distributed for personal contemplation and instruction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
