The Annunciation

1594

Hendrik Goltzius

Associated Names
Hendrick Goltzius

Artist, Dutch, 1558 - 1617

The image depicts two figures. The figure on the left is seated and facing slightly towards the right. She has a serene facial expression with her eyes downcast. Her hair is covered with a veil and she is wearing a long gown. The environment includes a bench or pedestal she is seated on and an open book nearby. The figure on the right is kneeling on the ground, facing the seated figure. This person has wavy hair falling to their shoulders and wings attached to their back. They hold a long stem with flowers in one hand. In the background, there are clouds and rays of light emanating from a central point where a dove is depicted, surrounded by several small cherubic figures with wings. The background engraving portrays cherubs and bearded figures within the clouds.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Accession Number

    1972.35.2

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    New Hollstein 1996, no. 8, State ii/vi

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1921

  • Hirschmann, Otto. Verzeichnis des graphischen Werks von Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617) mit Benutzung der durch E.W. Moest hinterlassenen Notizen zusammengestellt. Leipzig: Verlag von Klinkhardt und Biermann, 1921. Reprint. Braunschweig: Klinkhardt &Bie

1993

  • The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, 1450-1700. Rotterdam: Sound & Vision Interactive, 1996-: no. 8, ii/vi.

Inscriptions

in image, on a plaque at bottom centre: HG / Ao. 1594.; in image, on plaque at bottom left: SERENISSIMO PRINCIPI, AC IL- / LVSTRISSIMO DNO, D. GUILIELMO. V. / COMITI PALAT. RHE. UTRIUSQ. / BAVARIAE DUCI, etc. / Ut mediis Proteus se transformabat in undis, / Formosae cupido Pomonae captus amore: / Sic varia PRINCEPS TIBI nunc se Goltzius arte / Commutat, sculptor mirabilis, atque repertor. / C. Schonaeus (To the exalted Prince and August Lord, the lord William V, Count Palatine and Duke of the two Bavarias, etc. As Proteus changed amidst the waves out of burning love for the beautiful Pomona, so does Goltzius, the admirable engraver and inventor, with his varied art, for you, Oh Prince.); below image, in plate: Pone metum virgo, celsi tibi nuncius adsum / Missus ab arce poli, paries intacta stupente / Natura, ut veterum cecinêre oracula Vatum, / Teque Dei matrem totus venerabitur orbis. (Be not afraid, girl, I am here, sent as a messenger from the kingdom of heaven on high; a virgin, you shall bear a child to the astonishment of nature, according to the predictions of the ancient Prophets, and the whole world will worship you as the mother of God.)
[Latin translations from Leeflang, Huigen, and Ger Luijten. Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617): Drawings, Prints and Paintings. Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum, 2003, p. 210.]

Wikidata ID

Q65569184

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