Hendrick Goltzius

This portrait of Goltzius’s early teacher demonstrates how far Goltzius had moved from his mentor’s technique of emphasizing parallel hatching and contour lines by 1591. The loose, sagging skin is created by a network of swelling lines, short strokes, and dots that define the intermediate tones. The man’s shadow, cast into the niche, convinces us of the engraving’s inscription, that Goltzius depicted Coornhert “from life” (ad vivum).

Dirck Volkersz. Coornhert was an artist, intellectual, and outspoken statesman who had been exiled from Haarlem due to his liberal religious convictions. The border features Coornhert’s device, “Know, or let go” (Weet of rust), which expresses his belief that man cannot know all divine mysteries, and the wise refrain from acting in haste in the face of uncertainty. Goltzius created this engraving the year of his teacher’s death. Its large scale offers a tribute to his master, while its technical virtuosity affirms his excellent guidance.