nude male figure with cape on L side; nude female figure in darkness on R; angel top center with two wands

Day One, from "Creation of the World", 1589

Engravingexpand_more

Gift of funds from Nivin MacMillanexpand_more  2013.44.2.2

Not on Viewexpand_more

Hendrik Goltzius, the leading artist of Holland’s Mannerist Age collaborated with a talented young engraver, Jan Muller, to produce this extraordinary and highly original interpretation of the opening story of the Bible. Many artists had already depicted the Creation, but Goltzius gave it a new look. He chose a circular format for the plates, thus echoing representations of the cosmos and of Earth itself. God the Father appears in only the first and last plates, leaving angelic minions to perform the hard work of the days in between. The elements needed to create the world—light, dark, land, water—are represented by allegorical figures whose exaggerated physiques, sensuousness, and suggestive attributes body forth the carnality of the Origin with both humor and sophistication.

If Goltzius’s approach calls to mind Roman mythology rather than Sunday school class, it is no coincidence. At the time that he was designing this series, he was also working on an extended cycle of illustrations to Ovid’s "Metamorphoses."

Details
Title
Day One, from "Creation of the World"
Artist Life
1571-1628
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.44.2.2
Provenance
German art market; [C.G. Boerner, New York, 2012-13]; sold to MIA
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

nude male figure with cape on L side; nude female figure in darkness on R; angel top center with two wands