Hans Springinklee, “A Delegation of Portugal before a King and a Prince”, c.1516

Hans Springinklee (1490/95–[after]1527)

“A Delegation of Portugal before a King and a Prince”, c.1515, plate 156 of 235 plates executed variously by Hans Burgkmair, Leonhard Beck and Leonhard Schäufelein, published in Vienna in “Der Weiß Kunig. Eine Erzehlung von den Thaten Kaiser Maximilian des Ersten.” (“The White/Wise King. A story about the deeds of Emperor Maximilian I”), in 1775 with the first proofs (without the plate number) printed between 1514 and 1516; see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1850-0511-955-1191.

Note that “The Illustrated Bartsch” (vol. 11, p. 158) reproduces two image variants of this print (cat. nos. 80.221 & 80.222] featuring different lower right sections with the crest held by the standing courtier. By design, the crest changes according to the context in which the print is employed. In the image shown here, the crest is that of Portugal (see the crest of Portugal at the upper left in “The Emperor Seated on His Throne …” (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/754961) and I suspect (but may be very wrong) that the context of this print concerns ambassadors from Portugal asking for the hand of Princess Eleanor. In TIB 11.80.221 the portrayed delegation is from Denmark and in TIB 11.80.222 the portrayed delegation is from Hungary.

Woodcut (composite of two plates) printed in a warm black ink on laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 24.9 x 24 cm; (image borderline) 24 x 21.5 cm.

Condition: a well-printed impression from clearly worn printing plate(s)—trimmed with a narrow margin and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or stains.

I am selling this interesting example of a large woodcut composed of two plates with the lower right plate designed to be interchanged with different variations to the composition—to my mind, this use of an interchangeable plate is the Renaissance equivalent of today’s digital manipulation—for AU$276 in total (currently/approximately US$186.34/ EUR167.41/ GBP141.07 at the time of 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$276) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this Renaissance period woodcut precursor to Photoshop—in this impression the lower right features three kneeling/genuflecting ambassadors with a courtier holding the crest of Portugal while in other impressions the nationality of the visiting dignitaries to the royal court change—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.