Jan Both, “Two Cows by the Water”, c.1645

Jan Both (aka. Jan Dirksz Both) (1618/22–1652)

“Two Cows by the Water” (TIB title) (aka “Vue de Tivoli”), c.1645 (1636–1652 [BM]) from the series of six plates, “Six Horizontal Landscapes” (TIB title) (aka “Views of Rome and its Surroundings”).

Etching on fine laid paper trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 20.4 x 28.2cm; (plate) 20.3 x 28.1cm; (image borderline) 19.8 x 27.6cm.

Inscribed in plate: (lower left corner) “Both fe”.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “View of Tivoli with two cowherds in conversation. Landscape with also two cows standing on the banks of the river at right, buildings in left middle distance, and ruins of Hadrian's Villa in right background; from a series of six plates” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_F-2-80 [BM inv.no. F,2.80]).

See also the description offered by the Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200127138.

TIB 7.8 (Otto Naumann [ed.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, New York, Abaris Books, vol. 7, p. 14, cat. no. 8 [209]); Hollstein 8.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression, trimmed along the platemark and laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond minor darkening (possibly the intrinsic colour of the paper and ink?), the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this exceptionally fine etching showing the Aniene River with travellers and cows close to Hadrian’s Villa that is around 6 to 7kms from Tivoli—interestingly, today’s travellers are advised not to walk from Hadrian’s Villa to Tivoli despite the reasonably manageable distance because of traffic dangers—for AU $349 in total (currently US $217.42/ EUR 209.46/ GBP 172.71 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 $349) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this remarkable 17th century print by an artist that Clifford S Ackley (1981) in “Printmaking in the Age of Rembrandt” (Boston Museum of Fine Arts cat.) proposes was “searching for the black and white equivalent of the golden haze of southern light that vaporises or makes the forms of the landscape translucent …” (p. 176), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.