Polyhymnia

1592 · Print

May one see it?

Unknown: the museum keeps its counsel

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The owner is known. Whether it is on view today, the museum does not say, and we were not trained to guess.

In the museum's own words — in Dutch

Een serie van negen muzen. Vier regels Latijn van Franco Estius in marge onder prent.

Rijksmuseum

1590
Departure for Italy
He fled from his wife and, despite his illnesses, set out for Italy — via Hamburg and Munich to Venice, Bologna and Florence. Part of the way he traveled on foot, passing himself off as a commoner, "partly out of a love of mystification."
January 1591
Eight months in Rome
He arrived in Rome in January 1591 and stayed eight months (with a brief sojourn in Naples). He discovered Raphael, was especially impressed by Michelangelo and Giambologna, and studied art from classical sculpture to the masters of the Renaissance.
August 1591
Return to Haarlem with a collection of drawings
He returned to Haarlem, bringing from Italy a large collection of drawings that he used for the rest of his life; from the Roman material three engravings of classical statues are known, including the Farnese Hercules.