Adriaen
Collaert (c.1560–1618)
“Babyhood
Under the Influence of the Moon” (aka “Luna”; “Babytijd onder invloed van de
maan”), 1581, plate 1 following the title plate to the series of eight engravings
(including the title plate), “Septem Planetæ”
(aka “The Seven
Planets and Seven Ages”; “De zeven planeten en zeven leeftijden”; “Septem
planetae, septem hominis”), showing the power of the seven planets over the
seven ages of man (see Rijksmuseum inv. no. RP-P-1925-74) after the design by Maarten de Vos (aka Maarten de Vos; Maerten de Vos)
(1532–1603), published in Amsterdam by Gerard de Jode (aka Geeraert/Geerart/Gerardo/Gheerde/Gheraerde/Girard
de Jode) (1516/17–1591).
Engraving on
laid paper with full margins as published.
Size: (sheet) 36.3 x 25.2 cm;
(plate) 30.3 x 22.2cm; (image borderline) 28.8 x 21.9cm.
Lettered in
plate below the image borderline: “Auspicio LVNÆ, NATVRÆ munera crescent/ Robur
et hinc INFANS concipit omne suum// 1// M. D. Vos Inuentor/ A. Collaert fecit”.
New Hollstein
Dutch 1299 (Ann Diels and Marjolein Leesberg [comp.] 2005/6, “The New
Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings, and Woodcuts 1450–1700: The
Collaert Dynasty”, Ouderkerk aan den Ijssel, Sound and Vision, p. 20 [p. 23
image], cat. no. 1299).
See the
description of this print offered by the British Museum (inv. no. 1862,0712.321).
The Rijksmuseum
offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “In the air floats
the planet goddess Luna, the moon. She is accompanied by Cancer, her
astrological sign. In the foreground the personification of Natura, nature. She
suckles two children and has a mother hen and a cornucopia as attributes. Her
city crown also identifies her as Cybele, mother of the gods. In the background
toddlers and pre-schoolers play with each other. The print has a Latin caption
and is part of a seven-part series about the power of the seven planets over
the seven ages of man” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96916).
Condition: a well-printed slightly silvery impression with full margins as published and in a very
good condition with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains.
I am selling
this rare engraving executed only 17 years after Michelangelo hung up his boots
for the last time, for AU$336 (currently US$220.91/EUR204.21/GBP170.31 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$336) as this is
my currency.
If you are
interested in purchasing this somewhat spectacular and curiously interesting engraving showing the influence of the moon
personified as the planet goddess, Luna, on infants representing the first of the seven ages of man—or as the Latin caption
explains in translation: “Under the auspices of the Moon, Nature's gifts grow
stronger, and hence the child conceives all its own”—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