Engraver, Etcher, Draftsman and Painter - Hendrik Goltzius

The Dutch engraver, etcher, draftsman and painter of the early Baroque period Hendrik Goltzius began his artistic training in his father's workshop for stained glass. Later he learned engraving from the Dutch polymath Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert
In 1582 Goltzius founded a large engraving school, a meeting-place for artists to discuss both practice and aesthetics. Goltzius created portraits and historical engravings, both single pages as well as complete episodes of his own designs or paintings of Italian and Dutch masters.

'' Creation of the World '', Engraving , Metropolitan Museum of Art , Image Source

'' Apollo Killing Python '', Engraving , Image Source

He experimented with the "swelling line", manipulating the lines thicker or thinner to create a tonal effect from a distance. He also was a pioneer of dot- and lozenge technique to further refine tonal shading.
In 1590, the Netherlands' most respected engraver set off for Rome to sketching and studying famous antiques and works by Caravaggio, Raphael and Michelangelo. After his return to Haarlem, inspired by the models brought from Italy, his most famous leaves are created. During these years, the so-called master engravings appear with "Scenes from the Life of Mary", which he creates in the style of Parmigianino, Bassano, Barocci, Dürer and Lucas van Leyden. Around 1600 Goltzius reached the height of his fame. Manneristic smoothness is no longer noticeable in his mostly allegorical late pictures. He creates portraits, nudes and nature studies with a classical structure and colors based on Venetian tradition. The special significance of Hendrik Goltzius lies above all in the development of a virtuoso technique for a "colored" reproduction of paintings. He paved the way for the flourishing of copper engraving in the Netherlands and had a decisive influence on the next generation of engravers.

'' Farnese Hercules '', Engraving , Metropolitan Museum of Art , Image Source

'' Adam and Eve , The Fall of Man '', oil on panel , The State Hermitage Museum , Image Source

'' The dragon devouring the companions of Cadmus '', Engraving , Image Source

FineArtNow is a place for Artists and Art-Lovers.
The Idea of this blog is to bring creative people and art enthusiasts together and to increase the reach of Steemit - Artists !
Many Thanks for Your upvotes , comments and resteems ! We allways support our friends ! See you soon !