A Seated Monkey on a Chain 1592 - 1602
hendrickgoltzius
toned paper
light pencil work
pencil sketch
charcoal drawing
possibly oil pastel
pencil drawing
animal drawing portrait
portrait drawing
watercolour illustration
watercolor
"A Seated Monkey on a Chain" is a black chalk drawing on paper by Dutch artist Hendrick Goltzius. Created between 1592 and 1602, this piece is housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The drawing showcases Goltzius's mastery of detail and his ability to capture the animal's anatomy with precision. The monkey's melancholic pose and the chain around its neck create a sense of restraint and captivity, a common theme in Goltzius's animal studies. The drawing is notable for its realism, achieved through the artist's careful use of shading and highlights. This drawing serves as a testament to Goltzius's technical skill and his ability to imbue animal subjects with human-like emotions.
Comments
With masterly strokes and hatching, Hendrick Goltzius drew this Asian rhesus monkey, recognizable by its pinkish face, framed by fur. He devoted a great deal of attention to the faithful rendering of the fur, cleverly using the white of the paper to create subtle contrasts of light and dark. A fettered monkey had a special meaning, alluding to sinful man who is shackled to the earth through his lust for wealth.
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