Currently not on view
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester,
1586
Hendrick Goltzius, 1558–1617; born Mülbracht, Netherlands; died Haarlem, Netherlands
x1934-632
When a Spanish loyalist assassinated Prince William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch Revolt, in 1584, Queen Elizabeth I
of England sent Robert Dudley to support the Dutch rebels. In 1586, Dudley was given the title Governor-General of the United Provinces. Already a celebrated artist, Goltzius was commissioned, most likely by Dudley himself, to commemorate the appointment with a gold portrait medal, from which numerous impressions such as this one were printed. In the original medal, Goltzius employed an unusual technique developed in the Netherlands in the second half of the sixteenth century. Rather than casting a relief medal in which the image is raised, Goltzius has engraved directly onto the gold surface. Similar to engraving on copper sheets, the gold medal could then be inked and printed, resulting in reversed text in the printed version.
of England sent Robert Dudley to support the Dutch rebels. In 1586, Dudley was given the title Governor-General of the United Provinces. Already a celebrated artist, Goltzius was commissioned, most likely by Dudley himself, to commemorate the appointment with a gold portrait medal, from which numerous impressions such as this one were printed. In the original medal, Goltzius employed an unusual technique developed in the Netherlands in the second half of the sixteenth century. Rather than casting a relief medal in which the image is raised, Goltzius has engraved directly onto the gold surface. Similar to engraving on copper sheets, the gold medal could then be inked and printed, resulting in reversed text in the printed version.
Information
Title
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
Dates
1586
Maker
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
plate: 6 x 5.2 cm. (2 3/8 x 2 1/16 in.)
sheet: 12.2 x 9.5 cm. (4 13/16 x 3 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Junius S. Morgan, Class of 1888
Object Number
x1934-632
Place Made
Europe, Netherlands
Inscription
Signed in plate on right shoulder, lower left reversed: HG Fe
Name, title and date in margin around oval: [in reverse] Robertus Comes Leycestriae, Locu[n]tene[n]s General. sereniss. Reg.ae. Angliae in exercitu eius in Belgio Guuern. general. prouinciar. unitaru[m]. Ao 86.
Marks/Labels/Seals
Collector's stamped in brown ink, verso: A.F. von Lanna (Lugt 2773)
Reference Numbers
Bartsch 175; Hollstein 199; New Hollstein 213
Type
Materials
Techniques
Subject
Adalbert von Lanna [1836-1909, Lugt 2773]; sale of his collection, Stuttgart, May 11-22, 1909, lot 1803; Junius S. Morgan [1867-1932]; bequeathed to Princeton University Art Museum, 1932.
-
F.W.H. Hollstein, "Goltzius-Heemskerck," Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings, and woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700, (Amsterdam: M. Hertzberger, 1953).
- Otto Hirschmann and E. W. Moes, Hendrik Goltzius, Verzeichnis des graphischen Werks (Braunschweig: Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1976)., no. 376
- Marjolein Leesberg, "Hendrick Goltzius," New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700 (Ouderkerk aan den Ijssel: Sound & Vision Publishers, in co-operation with the Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 2012)., no. 399 (Stradanus)
- Walter L. Strauss, ed., Hendrik Goltzius, 1558-1617: the complete engravings and woodcuts (New York: Abaris Books, 1977-)., no. 408
