A Seated Monkey on a Chain

Hendrick Goltzius, 1592 - 1602

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.

  • Artwork typedrawing
  • Object numberRP-T-1888-A-1510
  • Dimensionsheight 406 mm x width 300 mm
  • Physical characteristicsblack, ochre, and red chalks

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • A Seated Monkey on a Chain
    • Monkey on a Chain, seated
  • Object type

  • Object number

    RP-T-1888-A-1510

  • Description

    Een zittende aap aan een ketting.


Creation

  • Creation

    • draftsman (artist): Hendrick Goltzius
    • draftsman (artist): Roelant Savery [rejected attribution]
  • Dating

    1592 - 1602

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    black, ochre, and red chalks

  • Dimensions

    height 406 mm x width 300 mm


This work is about

  • Subject


Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1888-10-22

  • Copyright


Documentation

  • Peter Hecht, 'Over liefde en bedrog : hoe de top drie gekozen werd', Bulletin van de Vereniging Rembrandt 19 (2009) nr. 1, p. 37-39, nr. 2.


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