The Sixth Day (Dies VI), from The Creation of the World, a series of title and six plates
In 1589 Jan Muller, son of the Amsterdam book printer, engraver, and publisher, was a member of or working in Hendrick Goltzius’s workshop in Haarlem. During that time, he engraved a series of prints depicting the creation of the world after designs by Goltzius, the premier draftsman and printmaker in the northern Netherlands. Although some preliminary sketches for the series still exist, the finished designs are now lost.
The series itself is extraordinary. Rather than following the centuries old traditional representations of the seven days of creation, based on the Book of Genesis, Goltzius looked instead to classical mythology for his imagery. It is often suggested that he was inspired by Ovid, the first century Latin poet, who describes the creation at the beginning of The Metamorphoses, his long poem about the gods and humankind.
Day Six is much more traditional in approach than the other prints in this series. As in the titlepage, the robed and bearded figure of God the Father is shown wrapped in heavenly clouds. He has just finished creating Eve, who stands before him, while Adam is curled up on a rock, sleeping. A later scene of Adam given dominion over the animals is shown in the background at the right.
The series itself is extraordinary. Rather than following the centuries old traditional representations of the seven days of creation, based on the Book of Genesis, Goltzius looked instead to classical mythology for his imagery. It is often suggested that he was inspired by Ovid, the first century Latin poet, who describes the creation at the beginning of The Metamorphoses, his long poem about the gods and humankind.
Day Six is much more traditional in approach than the other prints in this series. As in the titlepage, the robed and bearded figure of God the Father is shown wrapped in heavenly clouds. He has just finished creating Eve, who stands before him, while Adam is curled up on a rock, sleeping. A later scene of Adam given dominion over the animals is shown in the background at the right.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Sixth Day (Dies VI), from The Creation of the World, a series of title and six plates
- Artist: Jan Muller (Netherlandish, Amsterdam 1571–1628 Amsterdam)
- Artist: After Hendrick Goltzius (Netherlandish, Mühlbracht 1558–1617 Haarlem)
- Publisher: Hendrick Goltzius (Netherlandish, Mühlbracht 1558–1617 Haarlem)
- Date: 1589
- Medium: Engraving; New Holl.'s third state of three
- Dimensions: Sheet: 10 13/16 × 10 11/16 in. (27.5 × 27.2 cm)
Plate (diameter): 10 9/16 in. (26.8 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953
- Object Number: 53.601.338(72)
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Jan Muller
Lucas van Leyden
n.d.
Jan Muller
Harmen Jansz. Muller
1593
Jan Muller
Harmen Jansz. Muller
ca. 1600
Jan Muller
Harmen Jansz. Muller
1591
Jan Muller
Harmen Jansz. Muller
ca. 1591
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.