# The Apollo Belvedere, plate 3 from Three Famous Antique Sculptures

**Hendrick Goltzius** (Dutch, 1558–1617)  
c. 1592, printed c. 1617  
Engraving in black on cream laid paper  
Image: 40.5 × 29.1 cm (16 × 11 1/2 in.); Plate: 41.6 × 29.8 cm (16 7/16 × 11 3/4 in.); Sheet: 49.2 × 36.5 cm (19 3/8 × 14 3/8 in.)

Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1990.498. [The museum's record](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/112043).

## About this work

The Apollo Belvedere, the ancient marble god in the Vatican that Renaissance artists regarded as the perfect male figure, is shown here as Hendrick Goltzius drew it during his stay in Rome in 1590–91. Back in Haarlem he engraved it as one of three plates of celebrated antique sculptures, though they were printed only around 1617, the year of his death. The swelling and tapering lines of the engraving model the marble with extraordinary virtuosity, turning carved stone into something close to living flesh.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

Hendrick Goltzius made this in about 1592, printed c. 1617, aged about 29. It is now at the Art Institute of Chicago.

### What you’re looking at

A work made of engraving in black on cream laid paper.

_Description from the Art Institute of Chicago._

### How it was made

- **Engraving.** Lines cut directly into a metal plate with a steel burin, which makes them swell and taper. It took years to master, and for centuries it was how paintings travelled as pictures.
- **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.

### [Hendrick Goltzius](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/hendrick-goltzius)

Dutch, 1558–1617; born in Mühlbracht; died in Haarlem

Goltzius was the outstanding Dutch engraver of his generation, despite a childhood injury that crippled his right hand. In Haarlem he joined Karel van Mander and Cornelis van Haarlem in promoting the muscular Mannerist style of Bartholomeus Spranger, engraving swelling, tapering lines of great virtuosity. A journey to Italy in 1590–91 turned him towards classical sculpture, as in his engravings of the Apollo Belvedere, and around 1600 he gave up engraving for painting.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Print
- Culture: Netherlands
- The artist was about 29
- Real size: about 16 × 11 in (40 × 29 cm). The 12 × 16 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 16th century
- Movement: [Dutch Golden Age](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/dutch-golden-age)
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/290.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/290/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108; 30 × 40 in $148
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258; 30 × 40 in $338
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148; 24 × 36 in $178; 30 × 40 in $228
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5; 30 × 40 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/the-apollo-belvedere-plate-3-from-three-famous-antique-sculp-aic-112043).