Beeld van een faun met Bacchus op zijn schouders

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 376 mm x breedte 195 mm

Art Historical Context

Cornelis Cort's *Beeld van een faun Bacchus op zijn sch* (Statue of a Faun Bacchus on His Shoulders), created around 1570–1575, is a striking engraving measuring 376 mm high by 195 mm wide. As a leading Dutch engraver of the Northern Renaissance, Cort was renowned for his meticulous reproductive prints, often based on designs by masters like Titian or Stradanus. Working in Antwerp during a vibrant era of artistic exchange between Italy and the Netherlands, he helped popularize classical themes through the burgeoning print medium. The image captures a dynamic mythological scene: a muscular faun—half-man, half-goat from Roman lore—hoists the infant Bacchus (Dionysus), god of wine and revelry, triumphantly on his shoulders. This evokes the Renaissance fascination with antiquity, blending pagan vitality with humanist ideals. Engravings like this were revolutionary, allowing affordable dissemination of elaborate compositions to collectors across Europe. Cort's technique shines in the fine lines and textures that mimic sculpture, showcasing engraving's power to rival painting in detail and depth. A testament to 16th-century innovation, this print reflects the cultural hunger for classical revival amid religious and political upheavals in the Low Countries.

About the Artist

Cornelis Cort · 1533–1578

Comment on works: copper engraver; engraver; etcher