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Allegory of Spring

Maker

(artist)
1558-1617

(engraver)
1571-1631

(publisher)
1558-1617

Title

Allegory of Spring

Date of Production

1589

Dimensions

Diameter: 26 cm

Accession Number

G.1990.WL.986

Mode of Acquisition

Witt Library, transfer, 1990

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords




Related Works

Allegory of Spring

Label Text

Goltzius was praised by his contemporary Karel van Mander as being able to refashion his art through the careful study of others’ work. Here, the representation of Spring is modelled on the bronze sculpture of David by the early Renaissance artist Donatello. As Goltzius had not yet travelled to Italy when he designed this figure, he must have based it on a reproduction, proving his ability to transform the slender poised body of David into a dynamic figure capturing the abundance of spring.

Provenance

Froh. (?); acquired from him (in an exchange) by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (along with the drawing that copies it, D.1952.RW.3307); Witt Bequest 1952; relegated to Witt Library; Witt Library transfer 1990

Exhibition History

Drawings Gallery Display - Renaissance Modern, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 22/04/2015-07/06/2015

Inscriptions

Inscription: Recto: edge of image, printed: "Mitior aurato vellere tingit humum..."; lower centre within image, printed: "HGoltzius invenit. et / excud. 1589 / Iacobus Mathamius. / Goltzii privignus / sculp." Mount (removed): Recto: upper left corner, brown ink: "/a"; upper left, graphite: "Goltzius. Engraving. Spring?"; centre, graphite: "RC"; lower left, graphite: "1840"; lower left, graphite: "Vl 2661 / Vn 2147 77"; lower right, graphite, upside down and last line circled: "z/2 / p/2 / p/z". Verso: lower centre, graphite (abraded): "..[illegible].. 140"

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