Bernard Picart's engraving, “Atlas Supports the Heavens on His Shoulders”, 1731

Bernard Picart (1673–1733)

“Atlas Supports the Heavens on His Shoulders”, 1731, Plate 43 (XLIII) from the series of sixty plates, “Le Temple des Muses” (Neu-Eröfneter Musen-Tempel), pages 119–120, published in 1733 by Zacharie Chatelain (fl.1700–50) and later in 1754 in Amsterdam and Leipzig.

Etching and engraving printed from two plates on laid paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 44.7 x 30 cm; (outer plate) 35.3 x 25.3 cm; (outer image borderline) 34.1 x 24.9 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the (inner) image borderline in four languages (French, English, German and Dutch): (left) “Atlas Porte Le Ciel …/ Atlas supports the Heavens on his shoulders.// …./ …”.

LeBlanc 85-146 (J.Ch. Brunet & Ch. Leblanc 1854[–1889], “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant un dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations: ouvrage destiné à faire suite au Manuel du libraire”, vol. 3, Paris, p. 192, cat. nos. 85-146).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(Transl.) “Titan Atlas carries heaven on his back, as punishment for his part in the revolt against Jupiter. Through Perseus he is turned into a mountain range. In the margin the title in French, English, German and Dutch. The performance is decorated with an ornamental border.”

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.302958

All the plates (including this plate) illustrating “Le Temple des Muses” are available online at “Heidelberg historic literature – digitized”; see details about this plate:

https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/picart1754/0177/image .

Art of the Print offers marvellous insights and technical details about this print and its publication:

http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/picart_bernard_atlasheavens.htm

Condition: richly inked and well-printed impression in excellent/near pristine condition beyond light rippling along the lower margin edge (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling).

I am selling this stunningly beautiful engraving showing Atlas—a Titan from mythology—holding up the sky with the mountain range, The Atlas Mountains, of northwest Africa behind him, for AU$336 in total (currently US$226.86/EUR207.42/GBP184.05 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this museum quality engraving printed from two plates—an outer “frame” plate and the inner “image” plate—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold

(Attrib.) Jacques de Gheyn II's engraving, "Ignis", c1590

Jacques Granthomme (aka Jacobus Granthomme; Jaques Grandhomme; Jacob Grandhomme; Jaques Grandhomaerus, Jaques Grandhom; Jaques Granthomaeus; Jacobus Grandhommes; Jac Grant) (1588–1622)

“Saint Peter”, 1588–c.1622, plate 1 from the series of thirteen plates, “Christ, the Twelve Apostles”, deceptive copy after the engraving (1589) by Hendrik Goltzius (1558–1617).

Engraving on fine laid paper (with watermark) trimmed unevenly close to the plate mark on the top and sides and with a small margin on lower side.

Size: (sheet) 15.6 x 9.9 cm; (image borderline) 11.9 x 9.8 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “HGoltzius/ Inuentor.”; (lower right beneath book) “… [indistinct initials]”.

Numbered and lettered on plate below the image borderline: (centre) “I. / CREDO IN DEVM PATREM / OMNIPOTENTEM, CREATOREM / COELI & TERRÆ" (I BELIEVE IN GOD / ALMIGHTY, CREATOR / HEAVEN AND EARTH); (lower-left corner) “1”.

TIB 3.044 C1 (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3, Commentary, New York, Abaris Books, p. 53, cat. no. .044 C1)

See the Rijksmuseum description of this print:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.118191

Condition: richly-inked, faultless, lifetime impression (based on the crispness of the line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate and the retention of fine printing-plate scratches below the lettered text associated with early impressions), trimmed unevenly close to the platemark on the top and sides and with a small margin below the platemark. The sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling).

I am selling this small engraved masterpiece copy of Goltzius engraving showing technical virtuosity of the highest order for the total cost of AU$350 (currently US$237.48/EUR215.49/GBP184.59 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this remarkably beautiful early engraving reproducing Goltzius’ engraving of the same image with (arguably) even greater disciplined sensitivity, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold

Hendrik Goltzius' engraving, “Saint Matthias”, 1589

Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617)

“Saint Matthias”, 1589, plate 13 from the series of fourteen plates, “Christ, the Twelve Apostles and St. Paul”, published by Hendrik Goltzius in Haarlem.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline (with loss of the lettered text below the image borderline) and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 12.4 x 10.2 cm; (image borderline) 12.2 x 10.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower centre) “HG”.

State: unidentified state (of VI). The loss of the lettered text and numerals below the image borderline makes the identification of the state too problematic (e.g. state ii does not show the Arabic numeral; state iii shows the Roman numeral; state iv has the publication address of Danckert Danckertz; state v shows the address of F. de Wit; and state vi has the address erased). Nevertheless, the impression shows no sign of wear to the printing plate suggesting that this may be an early impression.

TIB 3(3).55(25) (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3, p. 56, cat. no. 55 [25]); Hollstein 46; New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 47 (Hendrick Goltzius); Hirschmann 1921 46; (Otto Hirschmann 1921, “Hendrik Goltzius, Verzeichnis des graphischen Werkes”, Leipzig).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 13: St Matthias. Half-length, holding the hilt of a sword and resting his left hand on a book ...”.

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1470307&partId=1&searchText=Goltzius+Matthias&page=1)

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.438180

Condition: well-printed, early/lifetime impression (based on the crisp quality of the line showing no sign of wear to the plate), trimmed close to the image borderline and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in excellent /near faultless condition for its considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling).

I am selling this small engraved masterpiece from the 16^th century exemplifying technical virtuosity of the highest order for the total cost of AU$350 (currently US$236.87/EUR216.52/GBP192.69 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this remarkably beautiful engraving by one of the most important of the old master printmakers, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold

Adriaen Collaert's engraving, “Mercury in a Decorative Frame with Grotesques”, c.1575–1618

Adriaen Collaert (c.1560–1618)

“Mercury in a Decorative Frame with Grotesques” (aka “Medallion with Mercury in a Frame of Grotesques”), 1575–1618, from the series of six engravings, “Medallions with Figures from the Judgment of Paris”; published by Adriaen Collaert (as inscribed on plate).

Engraving on laid paper trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 13.9 x 9.3 cm.

Inscribed on plate along the upper edge: (centre) “A[..]n. Collaert inv. sculp. et exc."

Orn Cat I 61.5; New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 1676 (The Collaert Dynasty)

The Rijksmuseum offers a description of this print:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.382640

Note that The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds a reverse copy of this print (1600–1630) in which the unidentified printmaker has explored two ways of treating the decorative frame for the roundel. The MET offers the following description of the two techniques to create the dark background for the ornamentation: “One half of the frame is done in blackwork, while the other half is filled with horizontal hatchings. The print is most likely a unique piece, made by an artist who was trying out different techniques and studying their effect.”

(https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/419795)

Condition: slightly silvery impression with numerous small restorations that are almost invisible (e.g. the upper left and lower right corners are replenished and stains in the upper border have been masked). The sheet has been trimmed along the platemark and is laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this sensitively rendered engraving of Mercury/Hermes—the mythological messenger of the Gods—for AU$310 (currently US$209.80/EUR191.78/GBP170.67 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this small gem-like engraving, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione's etching, "Head of a Young Man with a Cap and Feather”, 1645–50

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (aka Il Grechetto) (1609–1664)

"Head of a Young Man with a Cap and Feather” (Rijksmuseum title) (aka “Young Man with His Eyes Lowered” (TIB title); “Jeune homme vu presque de profil …” [Bartsch title]), 1645–50, from the series of 16 plates (TIB 32–47), “Small Studies of Heads in Oriental Headdress”.

Etching on fine laid paper with a narrow margin around the platemark backed with a support sheet

Size: (sheet) 11.5 x 8.6 cm; (plate) 11.2 x 8.2 cm.

Inscribed on plate at upper left: “CASTILIONE”.

Lifetime impression (based on the crisp quality of line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate).

TIB 46(21). 35(28) (Paolo Bellini [ed.] 1982, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Masters of the Seventeenth Century”, vol 46, New York, Abaris Books, p. 46, cat. no 35[28]); Bellini 1982 26.II (Paolo Bellini 1982, “L'Opera incisa di Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione”, Milan, Comune di Milano, p. 111, cat. 26); Bartsch XXI.28.35.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Head in profile to right with flat hat and a tuft behind.”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1447508&partId=1&people=129837&peoA=129837-2-60&page=1)

See also the description of this print at the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.34971

Condition: well-printed impression with no sign of wear to the printing plate in excellent condition, with a narrow margin (approx. 2 mm) around the platemark and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. 

I am selling this superb etching by the artist argued to be the inventor of the monotype for AU$353 (currently US$238.47/EUR218.03/GBP193.65 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this arresting study that the Rijksmuseum proposes is “inspired by similar etchings by Rembrandt and Lievens” (see RP-P-OB-12.181), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold