Bolognino Zaltieri, “Sirens”, c.1571

Bolognino Zaltieri (fl.1555–1576)

“Sirens”, c.1571 (see https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5698355), printed by Guichard Lullieron (fr.1574–1607) and published by Stephanum Michaelem in Lugduni (now Lyon, France), in the 1581 Latin edition translated by Antoine du Verdier of Vincenzo Cartari’s (1520/31–1569/71) “Imagines deorum, qui ab antiquis colebantur: in quibus simulacra, ritus, caerimoniae, magnaq[ue] ex parte veterum religio explicatur” (Images of the gods who were worshipped by the ancients: in which the images, rites, ceremonies, and great religion of the ancients are explained), as a woodcut illustration to page 167.

Archive.org offers an online view of this print in this publication; see https://archive.org/details/ARes63505/page/n177/mode/2up. Although this impression is from the Latin edition, the woodcut was also published in the same year (1581) in an Italian edition by Barthélemy Honorat (aka Bartholomeo Honorati) (c.1550–1589) on page 205; see https://archive.org/details/McGillLibrary-rbsc_imagini-antichi_BL720C21581a-16006/page/204/mode/2up.

Woodcut on laid paper, trimmed with a narrow margin and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 13.5 x 10cm; (image borderline) 13.3 x 9.7cm.

Condition: a well-printed early impression (based on the line quality showing no sign of wear to the printing plate) in an excellent condition with no significant stains, trimmed around to the image borderline with a narrow margin and laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this remarkable woodcut showing a bevy of sirens from the legendary island of Anthemoessea (or Anthemusa) in the waters near Capri (Italy) making music to bewitch beguilable sailors to their doom—note the bones of soft-eyed sailors who succumbed to the sirens’ charms—for AU $253 in total (currently/approximately US $158.18/ EUR 151.60/ GBP 125.86 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 $253) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in acquiring this finely executed woodcut from the late Renaissance period, 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