The Fall of Phaeton c. 1600

Hendrick Goltzius’s “The Fall of Phaeton” (c. 1600) is a powerful engraving that depicts the mythical story of Phaeton, son of the sun god Helios, who was given the task of driving the chariot of the sun across the sky but was unable to control the fiery steeds. This resulted in a catastrophic fall from the sky and marked the end of his brief reign as sun god. This print demonstrates Goltzius’s mastery of the engraving technique with its dynamic composition and masterful use of light and shadow. The engraving highlights the drama of the scene by focusing on Phaeton's precarious position in the chariot as it falls toward the earth while the horses are being pulled back by the gods. This engraving was popular in the early 17th century and exemplifies the mastery of the Renaissance era printmaking techniques.