Theodoor Galle, “The Seven Deadly Sins”, 1601

Theodoor Galle (aka Théodore Galle, Theodor Galle; Dirck Galle) (1571–1633)

“The Seven Deadly Sins” (aka “Septem Peccata Capitalia”), 1601, plate 26 (from a series of one hundred numbered plates), facing page 74 (see  https://archive.org/details/veridicvschristi00davi/page/74/mode/2up) to Jan David’s (1545?–1613) “Veridicvs Christianvs” (A true Christian), published in Antwerp in 1601 by John Moretus (1589–1610) and the (widow Jeanne Rivière’s) Plantin Press (Ex officina Plantiniana, apud Ioannem Moretum)—interestingly, I understand that Theodoor Galle’s marriage to John Moretus’ eldest daughter, Catharina, caused concern in public life at the time of publication as Theodoor’s father, the famous printmaker and publisher, Philip Galle, was viewed by some as having aligned himself to Protestant causes during the period of the Calvinist government in Antwerp (1577–1585) (see Leon Voet’s “The Golden Compasses”, p.194 https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/voet004gold01_01/voet004gold01_01_0005.php).  

Engraving on laid paper trimmed around the borderline with letterpress text verso and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 15.8 x 8.8cm; (image borderline) 11.3 x 8.8cm.

Lettered and numbered in plate: (above the image borderline) “SEPTEM PECCATA CAPITALIA.// 26.”; (within the image borderline) “A” to “D”; (below the image borderline in three text boxes of two lines in Latin [roman letter], Dutch [civilité] and French [italic]) “Crimina cur censes quædam Capitalia dici?/ Cetera Lernæâ velut hinc ceruice resultant.”

For those wishing to appreciate the flavour of the accompanying Latin text for this engraving, the following translation is the beginning of the chapter explaining (in part) the letter “A” elements in the image: (my apologies if there are errors in my reading and translation) “There were only seven nations and kingdoms to be feared in the Old Testament, which tried to prevent the children of Israel from entering the land of the Promised Land: thus there are seven different types of sinners, those children of God contend to ward off those who live in the promised land, that is to say, the Kingdom of Heaven.” (“Que madmodum septem erant in veteris Testamenti temoire Gentes & Regna ,quae siliis Israel ingressum in Piomissionis terram prohibere conabantur: ita suntseptem piaecipua peccatorum genera, auae silios Dei ab introitu in promissam terram viuentium, hoc eit, Regnum caelorum arcere contendunt.”)

Condition: a strong impression and well-printed impression trimmed around the borderline in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains and laid upon a support sheet of archival/millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this superb impression of a small but visually arresting engraving featuring the seven–headed monster of the seven deadly sins, for the total cost of AU$265 (currently US$172.35/ EUR165.37/ GBP137.48 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$265) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this interesting personification of the seven sins, 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