Sculptuur van Venus met een dolfijn - Hubert Quellinus

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Hubert Quellinus depicting a classical sculpture of Venus with a dolphin, originally documented for the Amsterdam Town Hall.

This etching by Hubert Quellinus depicts a classical sculpture of Venus accompanied by a dolphin. The work originates from the series documenting the interior and sculptural collection of the Amsterdam Town Hall, a project commissioned to record the architectural and artistic achievements of the building. Quellinus, a member of a prominent family of sculptors and artists, utilised his technical skill to translate three-dimensional marble forms into two-dimensional printed media.

The figure of Venus stands in a traditional contrapposto pose, her weight shifted to one leg, which creates a natural curve in the torso. Her hand gestures are subtle, and the inclusion of the dolphin at her side serves as a traditional iconographic attribute, linking the goddess to her mythological birth from the sea. The artist employs fine hatching and cross-hatching techniques to define the musculature and the smooth texture of the stone. The lighting is even, allowing the viewer to observe the anatomical precision of the original sculpture.

As a record of seventeenth-century Dutch classicism, this print provides insight into the reception of antique forms during the period. The Amsterdam Town Hall, designed by Jacob van Campen, was intended to reflect the status of the city, and the inclusion of such classical figures was common in the decoration of civic spaces. Quellinus captures the proportions and the serene expression of the statue with clarity. The bottom of the print features handwritten annotations, typical of archival documentation from the era, which identify the subject and provide context for the collection. This print is a clear example of the intersection between printmaking and the documentation of public art in the Dutch Golden Age.