{"product_id":"mars-and-venus-surprised-by-vulcan-hendrick-goltzius","title":"Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan - Hendrick Goltzius","description":"\u003cp\u003eA masterful 1585 engraving by Hendrick Goltzius depicting the mythological discovery of Mars and Venus, showcasing the technical precision of Northern Mannerism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engraving by Hendrick Goltzius, dated 1585, depicts the classical myth of Mars and Venus caught in an illicit embrace. The composition is based on a design by Bartholomeus Spranger, a painter who exerted considerable influence on the Haarlem school of Mannerism. Goltzius demonstrates his technical mastery through the use of swelling lines, a technique he developed to create volume and texture within the figures and the surrounding drapery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scene captures the moment of discovery. Mars and Venus are positioned centrally on a bed, while putti pull back the heavy curtains to reveal the lovers. In the background, the sun god Phoebus Apollo drives his chariot across the sky, acting as the witness who exposes the affair. The foreground includes the discarded armour of Mars, specifically his helmet and shield, which provide a narrative link to the god of war. The Latin inscription at the base of the print provides further context, referencing the inevitability of truth being brought to light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGoltzius was a central figure in the Dutch Mannerist movement, known for his ability to translate the complex, elongated forms of painters like Spranger into the medium of print. The work is characterised by its dramatic lighting, muscular anatomy, and the theatrical arrangement of the figures. The interplay of shadow and light across the bodies of the gods creates a sense of depth and physical presence. This print is a prime example of the sophisticated, intellectual art produced in the Netherlands during the late sixteenth century, reflecting a fascination with classical antiquity and the expressive potential of the human form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/venus-and-cupid-in-a-niche-marcantonio-raimondi\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eVenus and Cupid in a Niche - Marcantonio Raimondi — Marcantonio Raimondi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/the-cordons-of-saint-francis-agostino-carracci\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Cordons of Saint Francis - Agostino Carracci — Agostino Carracci\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hendrick Goltzius","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58894946206031,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58894979432783,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58894979465551,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58894979498319,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58894979531087,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58894979563855,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58894979596623,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58894979629391,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58894979662159,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58894979694927,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58894979727695,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58894979760463,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Mars-and-Venus-Surprised-by-Vulcan_Poster_CompositorV1_1790449751517.jpg?v=1790456774","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/mars-and-venus-surprised-by-vulcan-hendrick-goltzius","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}