Michiel Mosyn’s engraving, “Terra”, c1650, after Cornelis Holsteyn

Michiel Mosyn (aka Michiel Moseijn/Mosijn/Mosin/Mousyn/Mouzijn/Mouzyn/Mozijn) (c1630–? [still active c1680])

“Terra” (aka “Aarde”; “Earth”), c1650 (1645–1656), plate 2 from a series of four allegorical plates, “The Four Elements” (aka “De Vier Elementen”), after Cornelis Holsteyn (aka Cornelis van Holsteyn) (1618–1658) (Hollstein 30-33), published in Amsterdam by Cornelis Danckerts I (aka Cornelis Dankertsz) (1603–1656).

Engraving (with etching?) on fine laid paper with a small margin around the plate mark and with a flattened centrefold. Note that the British Museum advises that this is an etching and the Rijksmuseum describes it as an engraving. From my examination the lines are clearly engraved, but there may be some areas that are etched.

Size: (sheet) 43.6 x 33.5 cm; (plate) 41.6 x 32.3 cm; (image borderline) 39.2 x 32 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “C: Holst[e]ÿn. In[ven]tor./ M: Mosÿn. Sculpsit.”: (centre) “TERRA”; (right) “Dancker Dankerts Exc.”

Hollstein Dutch 31 (F.W.H. Hollstein 1956, “Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Meer–Ossenbeeck”, vol. 14, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger, p. 96, cat. no. 31).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Plate 2: Earth. Mythological scene with a group of putti carrying fruit garlands on the ground below, others doing the same in the sky; after Cornelis van Holsteyn/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1891-0511-86).

See also the description of this print held by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.156527.

Condition: an excellent impression with small margins around the platemark. There are closed tears in the margin on either side of the now flattened centrefold, otherwise the sheet is in a very good condition for its large size and considerable age with no holes, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this rare allegorical engraving celebrating (in my reading which my be incorrect) the harvest of the earth, showing five determined putti carrying—with some difficulty!—a long garland of leaves and fruit along the ground while fellow putti fly away with another garland, for AU$363 in total (currently/approximately US$245.96/EUR225.72/GBP189.60 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$363) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this very Baroque portrayal of putti at play in a seeping landscape of rolling hills, 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