
Read the visual description
The image shows a male figure standing in a powerful pose with one foot resting on clouds. His head is turned slightly to the side, exhibiting strong facial features with prominent cheekbones and a serious expression. His hair is flowing upwards. The figure is unclothed, revealing a muscular physique, apart from a cape billowing around him. He is holding a long arrow-like object in one raised hand, while the other hand holds part of the cape. The background is filled with swirling clouds and beams of light, and there is an inscription in a circular pattern emanating from his head. In the distance, there is a chariot with horses and figures. The entire image is enclosed in an oval frame.
National Gallery of Art · Print
Apollo
Hendrik Goltzius
- Date
- 1588
- Medium
- engraving on laid paper
- Dimensions
- plate: 35.3 x 26.5 cm (13 7/8 x 10 7/16 in.) sheet: 35.7 x 27.9 cm (14 1/16 x 11 in.)
- Classification
- Accession number
- 2012.92.51
- Credit line
- Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen
- Time span
- 1551 to 1600
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Dutch
- Male figure
- Portrait
- Male nude
- Cloud
Provenance
Norman Jack Leitman [b. 1934], San Diego, CA (Lugt 4545). (R.M. Light & Co., Inc., Santa Barbara, CA); Ruth Kainen [1922-2009], Washington, D.C. (Lugt 4739), purchased November 20, 1996; Gift to NGA, 2012.
Inscription
in image, at top centre: Dispellit tenebras, tortumqué illuminat orbem / Sol rutilus radiante coma, et fulgore corusco; in image, at bottom centre: HG. fe. / Ao. 88.
NGA object ID 131855. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.