Zeegod op dolfijn

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

Behold *Zeegod op dolfijn* (Sea God on Dolphin), a 1525 engraving by Barthel Beham, a master of the German Renaissance known among the "Little Masters" for his exquisite small-scale prints. This tiny gem, measuring just 42 mm high by 27 mm wide, captures a mythological sea deity riding a dolphin—a nod to classical antiquity revived during the Northern Renaissance. Beham, active in Nuremberg, drew from humanist interests in ancient myths, blending them with the era's intricate graphic artistry. Engraving was a revolutionary medium in the 16th century, allowing artists like Beham to achieve astonishing detail through fine incisions on copper plates. The minuscule size demands virtuoso precision, making each line and contour a testament to technical prowess. Prints like this were affordable multiples, spreading Renaissance imagery far beyond elite patrons and fueling cultural exchange across Europe. On the verso, a collector's mark stamped Lugt 240 hints at its esteemed provenance, linking it to historic collections. This little engraving invites us to marvel at how Beham packed grandeur into the intimate, a perfect emblem of Renaissance ingenuity.

About the Artist

Barthel Beham · 1502–1540

Barthel Beham (1502–1540), a pivotal figure in the German Renaissance, was born in Nuremberg into a family of artists. The younger brother of the renowned engraver Hans Sebald Beham, he honed his craft under the tutelage of his elder sibling and the master Albrecht Dürer, absorbing the precise techniques of engraving and painting that defined Nuremberg's vibrant artistic scene. Emerging as a prodi...