Home1797 Edition

GOLTIUS

Volume 8 · 733 words · 1797 Edition

(Henry), a famous engraver and painter, born in 1558, at Mulbreck in the duchy of Juliers. He was taught the art of engraving by Theodore Cuertenbert; and succeeded very wonderfully in it, notwithstanding the disadvantage of a lame hand, which was occasioned by his falling into the fire whilst young. He was first employed by his master, and afterwards he worked for Philip Galle. Domestic troubles and ill health occasioned him to travel. He went through Germany into Italy; and passed under a disguised name, that his studies might not be interrupted. He visited Bologna, Florence, Naples, and Venice, constantly applying himself to drawing from the antique statues, and the works of the great masters. At Rome he resided the longest; and there he produced several excellent engravings from Polidoro Raphael, and other eminent painters. On his return to his native country he established himself at Haarlem, where he engraved many of the drawings which he had made during his abode in Italy. He died at Haarlem in 1617, aged 59. He is said to have been forty years old before he began to paint; yet his pictures are spoken of with the greatest commendation; but as he did not produce any great number of them, they are of course but rarely to be met with. As an engraver, he deserves the highest commendation. No man ever surpassed, and few have equalled, him in the command of the graver and freedom of execution. He copied the style of Albert Durer, Lucas of Leyden, and other old masters, with astonishing exactness. Sometimes his engravings are neat in the extreme; at other times they are performed in a bold open manner, without the least restraint. He also engraved several of his own designs on wood, in that manner which is distinguished by the appellation of chiaroscuro. Of his prints, which are very numerous, it may here suffice to specify two or three of the most celebrated: 1. Six large upright plates, known by the name of his masterpieces. These, it is said, he engraved to convince the public that he was perfectly capable of imitating the styles of Albert Durer, Lucas Van Leyden, and other masters, whose works were then held in higher estimation than his own: for he had adopted a new manner, which he pursued because he thought it superior, and not because he was incapable of following the others. It is reported that with one of them, the Circumcision, which he smoked to give it the more plausible air of antiquity, he actually deceived some of the most capital connoisseurs of the day; by one of whom it was bought for an original engraving of Albert Durer. The subjects of these plates are; The Annunciation of the Virgin; the Meeting of the Virgin with Elizabeth, called the Visitation; the Nativity of Christ; the Circumcision of Christ; the Adoration of the wise Men; the holy Family. 2. The Judgment of Midas, a large plate lengthwise. 3. The Venetian Ball, a large plate lengthwise, from Theodore Bernard. 4. The Boy and Dog, a middling sized upright plate, from a design of his own; an admirable print. 5. The Necromancer, a middling sized upright oval print, in chiaroscuro. 6. Night in her Chariot, the same.

(Hubert), a learned German, born at Venlo in the duchy of Gueldres in 1526. His father was a painter, and himself was bred to the art under Lambert Lombard; but he did little at painting, or at least his pictures are very scarce; for having a peculiar turn to antiquities, he devoted himself to the study of medals. He travelled through Germany, France, and Italy, to make collections, as well as to draw from thence all the lights he could towards clearing up ancient history: he was the author of several excellent works, in which he was so accurate and nice, that he had them printed at his own house, under his own correction, and even engraved the plates and medals with his own hand. His veneration for Roman antiquities was so great, that he gave all his children Roman names: and married, for his second wife, the widow of the antiquarian Martinus Smetius; probably more for the sake of Smetius's medals and inscriptions, than for his own sake; and was punished accordingly by her plaguing him all his life, if she did not shorten it. He died in 1583.