Jacob Matham’s series of four engravings, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”

Jacob Matham (1571–1631)

“The Parable of the Prodigal Son”, 1592, series of four engravings after Karel van Mander I (1548–1606)

Upper left

Plate 1: “The Prodigal Son Receives His Birthright”

Upper right

Plate 2: “He Dissipates His Wealth on Pleasures of the Table”

Lower left

Plate 3: “He is Reduced to a Swineherd”

Lower right

Plate 4: “The Return of the Prodigal Son”

I am selling this complete set of four prints for the total cost of AU$740 (currently US$560.87/EUR502.39/GBP238.89 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this important and COMPLETE set of prints from the Renaissance era, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This set of prints has been sold

“The Prodigal Son Receives His Birthright”, 1592, after Karel van Mander I (1548–1606), plate 1 from the series of four plates, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15: 11-32).

Engraving on fine laid paper

Size: (sheet cut irregularly) 25 x 18.2 cm; (plate) 23.8 x 17.4 cm; (image borderline) 22.3 x 16.9 cm

Lettered in lower left corner "KVM. Inuent. / IMaetham. schulp.". Numbered in lower left corner "1" and dated "1592". With two columns of text, each two lines "Prodigus ... futuri" by "FE" (Franco Estius).

TIB 4(3).172(173) (Walter L Strauss & Robert A Koch [Eds.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 4, p. 157); Bartsch III.173.172; New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 26.I (Jacob Matham); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 52.I (Karel van Mander); Hollstein 64

The British Museum offers the following description of the print:

“The prodigal son receiving his inheritance; the son, with a sword, stands before a table listening to his father (wearing a skullcap), who sits at a table with an open chest and reading from a piece of paper.” (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1480942&partId=1&searchText=1928,1212.49&page=1)

Condition: strong impression with a printer’s crease (i.e. a fine fold created during the printing process) but this crease has been touched with tone to hide the defect. There are replenished losses at the top left corner and margin. Beyond this issue the sheet is in very good condition and laid upon a conservator’s support sheet. 

“He Dissipates His Wealth on Pleasures of the Table”, 1592, after Karel van Mander I (1548–1606), plate 2 from the series of four plates, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15: 11-32).

Engraving on fine laid paper

Size: (sheet cut irregularly) 25.8 x 19.7 cm; (plate) 23.8 x 17.4 cm; (image borderline) 22.2 x 16.9 cm

Numbered in lower left corner "2". With two columns of text, each two lines "Ille iugo ... perundant".

TIB 4(3).173(174) (Walter L Strauss & Robert A Koch [Eds.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 4, p. 158); Bartsch III.174.173; New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 27.I (Jacob Matham); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 53.I (Karel van Mander); Hollstein 65

The British Museum offers the following description of the print:

“The prodigal son wasting his substance; the son sits at a lavish table, laden with food, flanked by two courtesans; there are two musicians at right sitting on a bench, a boy standing at the table holding a jug and a maid marking a board with the tab in the background.” (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1480936&partId=1&searchText=Jacob+Matham+prodigal&page=1)

Condition: strong impression with a printer’s crease (i.e. a fine fold created during the printing process) but this crease has been touched with tone to hide the defect. There sheet is in excellent condition generally. There are, nevertheless, a few spots (visible verso) and a piece of tape supporting the printer’s crease (verso). The sheet has been trimmed unevenly with larger margins on the sides and bottom and a thread margin at the top. 

“He is Reduced to a Swineherd”, 1592, after Karel van Mander I (1548–1606), plate 3 from the series of four plates, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15: 11-32).

Engraving on fine laid paper

Size: (sheet cut irregularly) 25 x 18.2 cm; (plate) 24 x 17.4 cm; (image borderline) 22.3 x 17 cm

Numbered in lower right corner "3". With two columns of text, each two lines "Ach miser ... conuiua lutofis".

TIB 4(3).174(174) (Walter L Strauss & Robert A Koch [Eds.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 4, p. 159); Bartsch III.174.174; New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 28 (Jacob Matham); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 54.I (Karel van Mander); Hollstein 66

The British Museum offers the following description of the print:

“The prodigal son receiving his inheritance; the son, with a sword, stands before a table listening to his father (wearing a skullcap), who sits at a table with an open chest and reading from a piece of paper.” (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1480942&partId=1&searchText=1928,1212.49&page=1)

Condition: strong impression in excellent condition and laid upon a conservator’s support sheet. 

“The Return of the Prodigal Son”, 1592, after Karel van Mander I (1548–1606), plate 4 from the series of four plates, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15: 11-32).

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed on or within the platemark with replenished losses.

Size: (sheet cut irregularly) 23.7 x 17.4 cm; (image borderline) 22.3 x 17 cm

Lettered below centre "KVM. Inuent. / IMaetham. schulp.". Numbered in lower right corner "4". With two columns of text, each two lines "Hinc patrias ... parantur" by "F.E." (Franco Estius).

TIB 4(3).175(174) (Walter L Strauss & Robert A Koch [Eds.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 4, p. 160); Bartsch III.174.175; New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 29.I (Jacob Matham); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 55.I (Karel van Mander); Hollstein 67

The British Museum offers the following description of the print:

“The return of the prodigal son; the son, reduced to wearing rags and carrying a staff, kneels before his father who embraces him and holds his hand; a group of people stand by and the scene takes place under a bridge with stairs at r.” (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1480954&partId=1&searchText=1928,1212.49&page=1)

Condition: strong impression in poor (but restored) condition with replenished losses, printer’s creases and brown spots laid upon a conservator’s support sheet.