Nox (The Night)

Hendrick Goltzius

1558 Mulbrecht near Venlo – 1617 Haarlem

Clair-obscur woodcut in yellowish green. 1588-90. Sheet size: 35,7 x 27,1 cm. Hollstein 372 II. Nancy Bialler. Chiaroscuro Woodcuts, Hendrick Goltzius (1558 - 1617) and his time, Amsterdam 1993, cat. no. 32 b of c.

Magnificent impression with marked relief, recto and verso. Apart from a minute tear in the edge, of exemplary and fresh preservation. On a full paper sheet. In this version a great rarity.

The last one as well as the rarest print of the series Goddesses and Gods (1588 - 1590), consummate in printing quality and most masterly in composition. Goltzius pioneered the colour woodcut in Holland. He gained more from the technically accomplished German Renaissance artists around Hans Burgkmair and Hans Baldung Grien than from those following Parmigianino. The Fleming Christoffel Jegher can be considered a worthy successor, particularly in his large size print The Rest on the Flight after Rubens. The art of the clair-obscur woodcut of the 16th century finds its culmination in Goltzius’ virtuosity.

Bought within the art trade.