The Story of Niobe, Hendrick Goltzius, Dutch

Since the 16th century, Dutch artists used prints to promote their art and access a wider public than what was possible for a single painting. During the Dutch Golden Age, (17th century), Dutch artists perfected the techniques of etching and engraving. The rise of printmaking in the Netherlands is attributed to a connection between Italy and the Netherlands during the 1500s. Together with the large-scale production, it allowed the expanding reach of an artist’s work. Prints were popular as collecting items, so publishing houses commissioned artists to create a drawing or a painting, and then print the work for collectors - similar to what occurs at publishing houses today. Dutch printmaking evolved rapidly, so in 16th-century etching prevailed over the engraving. Major Dutch Printmaker Artists: Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Hendrick Goltzius, Rembrandt van Rijn, Anna Maria van Schurman, Adriaen Jansz van Ostade, Ferdinand Bol.

Polidoro da Caravaggio was an Italian Renaissance painter and architect. He was born in Caravaggio, Italy, around 1499 and is believed to have trained under the painter Andrea del Sarto in Florence. Polidoro is best known for his frescoes, which often depict mythological scenes and are characterised by vivid colours and dramatic compositions. He worked mainly in Rome, where he collaborated with the artist Maturino da Firenze on several projects, including the decoration of the Villa Farnesina. In addition to his work as a painter, Polidoro was also an accomplished architect. He designed several buildings in Rome, including the Palazzo Milesi and the Palazzo Caprini. Polidoro died in 1543, aged 44, and his work had a significant influence on later artists, particularly those working in the Baroque style.