St. James the Less
c. 1578
Hendrick Goltzius, a Dutch master of Mannerism, loved to crank up the drama and muscle mass in his art. In this intense engraving from around 1578, St. James the Less stands serenely on the right holding a book, while a violent mob beats a figure to death with clubs in the background—depicting the saint's gruesome martyrdom. Notice how everyone looks like a Renaissance bodybuilder? That's the Mannerist style, favoring exaggerated poses and tension over realistic proportions. Goltzius was a wizard with the burin, creating 'swelling lines' that made his engravings look almost as fluid as brushstrokes.
- Technique
- Engraving