Workshop of Hendrik Goltzius’ engraving,“Phaeton Driving the Chariot of the Sun”, 1590

Workshop of Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617) and executed under Goltzius’ direction. Note that amongst the students in Golzius’ workshop were the highly distinguished artists: Jacob Matham, Jan Saenredam, Jan Muller, Jacob de Gheyn II and Pieter de Jode.

“Phaeton Driving the Chariot of the Sun”, 1590, from the series of fifty-two prints (of an originally planned 300) of Ovid's “Metamorphoses Book II”, initially published (as in the case with this impression) in Haarlem by Hendrik Goltzius and later (with the addition of the number “22”) by Claes Jansz. Visscher (1587–1652) with verses by the Neo-Latinist Humanist poet, Franco Estius (aka Franco van Est) (fl.1580s–1594).

Engraving on fine laid paper, trimmed slightly within the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 17.3 x 25 cm.

Numbered and lettered on plate below the image borderline with four lines of Latin in two columns: (left) “2// Audet Phoebeas stulte... / ...// …/ … libido rapit."

State i (of ii) Lifetime impression before the addition of the number, “22”, at lower right.

TIB 3. 52 (106) (After Goltzius) (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3, New York, Abaris Books, p. 323, cat. no. 52 [106]; & 1982, vol 3 [Commentary]), p. 356, cat. no. [0302].52); New Hollstein Dutch 553-1(2) (Marjolein Leesberg [comp.] 2012, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Hendrick Goltzius”, vol. III, Ouderkerk aan den Ijssel, Sound & Vision, p. 242, cat. no. 553).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 22: Phaeton driving his father's sun chariot around Earth but losing control of the horses, Eos seated on a cloud in top left; after Hendrik Goltzius” https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1947-0412-3-22 ).

See also the description by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.380078.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression, trimmed slightly within the platemark and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is age-toned with a few minor restorations and stains.

I am selling this strong and exceptionally rare first state (lifetime) engraving illustrating the allegorical tale of Phaeton—the head-strong son of the sun king, Helios—taking his father’s sun chariot out on a joy ride only to be later stuck by a thunderbolt from Zeus because Phaeton’s driving was so bad, for the total cost of AU$340 (currently US$263.31/EUR220.95/GBP189.37 at the time of posting this print) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this seldom seen engraving on the art market, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold