Bust of Janus surrounded by strapwork, from the series 'Deorum dearumque,' a set of images of deities after coins in the collection of Abraham Ortelius

Art Historical Context

This intricate etching, *Bust of Janus surrounded strapwork*, captures the-faced Roman god of beginnings, gates, and transitions—symbolizing foresight and hindsight—in a profile inspired by ancient coins from the renowned collection of Abraham Ortel, the famed 16th-century Flemish cartographer. Created in 1573 as part of the series *Deorum dearumque (Images of Gods and Goddesses), it reflects the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity, where scholars and artists pored over coins to revive pagan deities for a modern audience. A collaborative masterpiece by Philips Galle, the van Doetecum brothers (Johannes and Lucas), Gerard van Groeningen, and Hans Vredeman de Vries, the print showcases the Northern Mannerist style. The artists, masters of fine reproductive prints, employed etching—a relatively new technique allowing delicate lines—to render Janus's stern profile amid elaborate strapwork, a popular ornamental motif resembling intertwined leather straps. This frame adds architectural flair, blending antiquity with contemporary decorative arts in a compact plate size of just under 5 by 3.5 inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work highlights how 16th-century printmakers democratized classical imagery, influencing ornament design across Europe. Imagine holding a tiny portal to Rome in your hand—timeless divinity framed by Renaissance ingenuity!

About the Artist

Philips Galle|Johannes van Doetecum I|Lucas van Doetecum|Gerard van Groeningen|Hans Vredeman de Vries · 1537–1612

Philips Galle (1537–1612) was a leading Netherlandish engraver, designer, and print publisher whose career bridged the vibrant artistic scenes of Haarlem and Antwerp. Born in Haarlem, he studied under the humanist engraver Dirck Volkertsz. Coornhert, honing his skills in reproductive printmaking. Early on, Galle produced engravings after the Haarlem master Maarten van Heemskerck, capturing the Man...