Marcus Calphurnius Flama (Plate 8 from “Roman Heroes”)
Hendrick Goltzius
Description
March 28, 2009
This engraving of a hypermuscular man—reminiscent of a modern-day superhero—represents Marcus Calphurnius Flama, and belongs to a series of eight prints created by Goltzius depicting heroes of the early Roman Republic. Contemporaries coined the term “Knollenstil,” or “knobby style,” to describe the exaggerated muscularity of Calphurnius and other male figures that Goltzius engraved in the late 1580s. Goltzius developed the style through his collaboration with the famous and highly influential artist Bartholomeus Spranger, whose drawings Goltzius occasionally translated into prints. The challenge of emulating Spranger’s skillful renderings of anatomy, in particular, seem to have inspired Goltzius to push the articulation of musculature in Calphurnius and in other similar figures to such a stunning extreme. Goltzius probably sought to promote his artistry through such virtuosic displays, an intention confirmed by the dedication of The Roman Heroes to the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudoph II, a committed patron of the arts.
Subject Matter:
Goltzius depicted Marcus Calphurnius Flama in the eighth in a series of ten prints representing heroes of the Roman Republic. Flama earned his fame for rescuing a Roman consul from an ambush by the Carthaginians during the First Punic War (264-241 BCE) against overwhelming odds, a military feat glimpsed in the background.
Goltzius's contemporaries coined the term "Knollenstil," or "knobby style," to describe the exaggerated muscularity of Flama and other male figures that Goltzius engraved in the late 1580s. The powerful anatomy of such figures indicated their physical might and heroism, while also offering Goltzius an opportunity to display his artistic prowess. Perhaps with an eye toward securing a wealthy patron, Goltzius dedicated the "Roman Heroes" series to the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II, thereby associating the emperor with these ancient exemplars of military virtue.
Physical Description:
A muscular man towers over a mountainous landscape in this engraving. Clothed only in a helmet, sandals, and flowing cape, his startling physique is on full display. He grasps a sword and shield and strides vigorously toward the background, where a knot of men battle at the foot of a mountain.
Usage Rights:
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