Sun from The Gods Who Preside Over the Planets

Art Historical Context

"Sun from The Gods Whoide Over the Planets" a captivating etching by the enigmatic Master I.B., in 1528. This tiny masterpiece, measuring just 3 3/8 x 1 15/16 inches, belongs to a rare series personifying planetary deities from classical mythology. Here, the Sun god—likely Sol or Apollo—commands attention amid dynamic motifs of lions, shields, weapons, evoking power, protection, and celestial authority. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it reflects the Renaissance fascination with astrology, antiquity, and the cosmos. Etching, a pioneering technique in the 1520s, allowed Master I.B.—an anonymous Northern European printmaker—to achieve intricate lines and tonal depth with acid on metal plates, revolutionizing affordable image reproduction. This method's precision suits the print's compact scale, making it ideal for collectors' albums or scholarly study. Culturally, the work bridges medieval cosmology and Renaissance humanism, blending heraldic symbols with mythological grandeur. Bequeathed by Phyllis Massar in 2011, it invites visitors to ponder how 16th-century artists visualized the heavens, turning the minuscule into the majestic.

About the Artist

Master I.B. (German) · 1525 –1530

German, active 1525–1530