Phaethon from the Four Disgracers series
1588
Imagine borrowing your dad's car, crashing it, and getting struck by lightning—that's the tragic backstory of Phaethon. Created in 1588, this dramatic circular engraving by Hendrick Goltzius captures the moment the sun god's son plummets from the sky after losing control of the solar chariot. The figure is twisted into a spectacular, muscular knot, a hallmark of the Mannerist style that prized artificial elegance and exaggerated poses. Goltzius was a virtuoso engraver, using a unique 'swelling line' technique to make the flesh look incredibly soft and three-dimensional. The Latin inscription around the border serves as a stern warning: ambitious dreams often end in a disastrous fall!
- Technique
- Engraving
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