Hendrik Goltzius was a Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter, born at in Holland of German descent. He was the leading Dutch engraver of the early Baroque period, noted for his technique.

After studying painting on glass for some years under his father, he was taught the use of the burin by a Dutch engraver of mediocre attainment. He soon surpassed his instructor and gained employment for Philip Galle to engrave a set of prints of the history of Lucretia.

He was also a leader in the Mannerist movement of artists working in Haarlem, where he founded an academy with Cornelis van Haarlem and Karel van Mander untill he traveled to Rome in 1591 and acquired an intense admiration for the works of Michelangelo, which led him to emulate the great artist in the classical style and extravagance of his designs.

Goltzius's right hand was crippled, however, in spite of his handicap, he was renowned for his technical virtuosity and his skill, being compared to the work of another great engraver, Albrecht Durer.

Goltzius ought not to be judged by some of the works he produced such as the reproductive works of his early career. He also produced many original compostitions including allegories, landscape and miniature portrait drawings. His tiny portraits are masterpieces, both on account of their exquisite finish, and as fine studies of individual character. Of his larger heads, the life-size portrait of himself is probably the most striking example. His masterpieces, so called from their being attempts to imitate the style of the old masters, have perhaps been overpraised.