Plate 2: Jupiter; statue of the nude god seated on an eagle, holding a double trident; from 'Statues of Roman Gods' after Jacques Jonghelinck

Art Historical Context

Behold *Plate 2: Jupiter from the series *Statues of Roman Gods* (1586), an exquisite engraving by Philips Galle after sculptures by Jacques Jonghelinck. This print captures a majestic nude statue of Jupiter, Roman king of the gods, seated triumphantly atop his sacred eagle while wielding a double trident—a symbol blending divine authority with martial power. Measuring about 9 13/16 × 6 3/8 inches, the trimmed sheet exemplifies the precision of 16th-century engraving, technique that allowed Galle, a leading Antwerp printmaker, to reproduce intricate sculptural details with fine lines and tonal depth. Created during the Renaissance, when Northern European artists eagerly revived classical antiquity, this work documents Jonghelinck's ambitious garden statues in Antwerp, showcasing the era's fascination with Greco-Roman mythology. Jupiter's eagle evokes thunderbolts and sovereignty, while the unusual double trident nods to his dominion over sea and sky, merging attributes in a bold artistic interpretation. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953), this engraving not only preserves these now-lost or altered sculptures but also democratized access to pagan grandeur for collectors and scholars, bridging ancient myth with early modern curiosity. A testament to the power of printmaking!

About the Artist

Philips Galle|Jacques Jonghelinck|Philips Galle · 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...