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Hendrick Goltzius captures the muse of astronomy, Urania, in this elegant 1592 drawing. She sits gracefully, cradling a celestial globe that hints at her domain over the stars, her hair piled high in a fashionable bun. The soft, grainy texture suggests the use of black chalk, allowing Goltzius to create those sweeping, Mannerist folds in her clothing with incredible fluidity. As a master engraver known for precise lines, this sketch reveals his looser, more intimate side. You can see his signature pride at the bottom with 'HG fecit'—Latin for 'HG made this'—claiming ownership of this serene study.
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