Julius Goltzius was the son of Hubrecht Goltzius, himself a painter of "History Paintings" and followed in his father's and his teachers' footsteps. We know little about him save that he was married in Anvers / Antwerp on 27 September 1581 and died about 1595. His engravings of the four Evangelists are in the mainstream of Dutch Renaissance History Painting and the needs of the print market in the late 16th century in a country in revolt from King Philip II of Spain, their hereditary ruler but a Catholic, and riven by civil war between Catholics and Protestants. The choice of subject matter is appropriate for Catholics but would also especially appeal to Protestants seeking a biblically-based religion. Although Goltzius has been identified as the son of Hendrick Goltzius, Benezit rejects that assertion. According to the St. Matthew and St Mark engravings, the works are based upon drawings by Anthonie Blocklandt, a pupil of Frans Floris and an artist influenced by Parmigianino during a 7-month trip to Italy. In 1577, Goltzius entered into the Painter's Guild in Utrecht in 1577. The works were published by Hans II Liefrinck, a painter, engraver, and print publisher active in Anvers from 1581 on.