Pentz (Pencz or Pens), Georg
Pentz (Pencz Or Pens), Georg, a celebrated German painter and engraver, was born at Nuremberg about 1500. He was first the pupil of Albrecht Durer, and afterwards went to Italy, and studied the works of Raffaelle at Rome, probably after the death of that great master. Pentz died about 1560. Little is known of his works as a painter. A few of them are in the Imperial Gallery at Vienna, and these are greatly admired. His prints are numerous and highly esteemed. His drawing is correct, and there is none of that stiffness and formality which characterize the productions of his contemporaries. While in Italy he engraved, in conjunction with Marc' Antonio, several plates after the works of Raffaelle. The Bible subjects from his own designs are: Two small prints, Job Tempted and Esther before Ahauerus; two, Judith in the Tent of Holofernes and Judith with his Head; two, the Judgment of Solomon and Solomon's Idolatry; two, Lot and his Dautghters and Susanna and the Elders; four of the History of Joseph (1544); seven of the History of Tobit (1543), considered among his best; two of the Merciful Samaritan and the Conversion of St. Paul (1545); The Four Evangelists. The seven works of Mercy are circular; twenty-five plates of the life and miracles of Christ are very fine.
