Augustin Hirschvogel, “The Temptation of Christ”, 1548

Augustin Hirschvogel (1503–1553)

“The Temptation of Christ” (TIB title), 1548 (date inscribed in plate), plate 23 (TIB) from the series of 104 plates published in Vienna in 1550 by Aegidius Adler (fl.mid-1500s) in “Vorredt und eingang der Concordantzen alt und news Testaments."

Etching on fine laid paper, trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline (with loss of the accompanying letterpress text [see https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.39380.html]) and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 11.7 x 14.8cm; (image borderline) 11.5 x 14.5cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower right corner) “1548”.

TIB 18.1.23 (Jane S Peters [ed.] 1982, “The Illustrated Bartsch: German Masters of the Sixteenth Century”, Abaris Books, New York, vol. 18, p. 117, cat. no. 1.23); Schwarz 22.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Temptation of Christ; Christ at left, facing Satan in cloak and cane, seen from behind, smaller scene with Christ and Satan at cliff in background, accompanied by German biblical verse to Matthew 4 in letterpress; printed to face the antetype of Adam and Eve; illustration to Peter Perenyi and Augustin Hirschvogel, 'Vorredt und eingang der Concordantzen alt und news Testaments, durch Pereny Petri... Und nachuolgents durch Augustin Hirßfogel... erweytert' (Vienna, Aegidius Adler: 1550). 1548” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1926-0617-13-23 [BM inv.no. 1926,0617.13.23]).

The Curator of the British Museum advises that Adler’s publication features “[t]wo etchings to a page with German letterpress above and below with relevant biblical passages” (op. cit.). TIB notes that this print is paired with the etching “The Fall of Man” (TIB 18.1.22 [https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1926-0617-13-21])

Condition: a strong and well-printed lifetime impression (based on the line quality with no sign of wear to the printing plate), trimmed around to the image borderline and laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond a few marks, the sheet is in a very good condition for its considerable age with no tears, folds or significant stains.

I am selling this very early and extremely rare etching illustrating an Old Testament scene from Matthew 4, for AU $310 in total (currently/approximately US $193.09/ EUR 186.25/ GBP 154.56 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$310) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in acquiring this Renaissance period print executed in Michelangelo’s lifetime by the artist who arguably popularised the great Albrecht Altdorfer’s somewhat panoramic approach to landscape, 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