Artwork
Pallas Athena
Pallas Athena is a print by the Renaissance artist Jan Pietersz Saenredam. It dates from 1595 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This engraving, titled Pallas Athena, is part of a series depicting the Judgment of Paris. It showcases the goddess Athena in armor, rendered in a style characterized by intricate, curved lines.
Subject & Meaning
Athena, goddess of wisdom, arts, and warfare, is shown with her attributes: a helmet, spear, and shield adorned with a snake. An owl, symbolizing her wisdom, accompanies her. The print is one of three representing the goddesses vying for the golden apple in the Judgment of Paris.
Technique & Style
The engraving features chiaroscuro, achieved through curving, tapering, and crisscrossing lines that create a sense of volume and depth. This technique, popularized by Goltzius, gives Athena's armor a realistic appearance.
Context
The print is part of a series designed by Goltzius and engraved by Saenredam. By presenting the goddesses separately, the artists invite viewers to assume Paris's role and decide which one is most beautiful.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Pieterszoon (abbr. Pietersz.) Saenredam (c. 1565 – 6 April 1607) was a Dutch Northern Mannerist painter, printmaker in engraving, and cartographer, and father of the painter of church interiors, Pieter Jansz…
