Master of the Die (fl.1522-33) (purported by the “Benezit
Dictionary of Artists” [2005] to be Bernardo
Daddi [fl.c.1530–60], but the BM also argues that the artist may be Tommaso Vincidor [1493–1536])
“Envy Driven
from the Temple of the Muses” (TIB title), c1530 (1530–2), after Baldassare Peruzzi (1481–1536) after a
woodcut by Ugo da Carpi (1486–1532),
published by Philippe Thomassin (1562–1622).
Engraving on
laid paper trimmed near the platemark with thread margins.
Size: (sheet)
25.5 x 18.3 cm
Inscribed
within the image borderline: (lower left) “Baltazar Perutius Senen. Inuetor”;
(right) the artist’s monogram 'B' on a dice
Lettered below
the image borderline in two columns of four lines of Latin descriptive text: Quella
che'l secol ... batte e’, scopiglia”;
(lower edge at centre) “Phts Thornassinus exc.”
State ii? (of
ii?) Note that this impression with Thomassin’s name shown as the publisher is
described by Bartsch (XV.195.17). The curator of the BM advises that this is a
later state with the address of Lafreri as publisher erased and replaced with
“Baltazar Perutius Senen. Inuetor” (see BM no. V,6.67). The impressions
reproduced in TIB (29.17) and the BM (no. V,6.67) with the address of Lafreri
are not mentioned by Bartsch.
TIB 29 (15). 17(195)
(Suzanne Boorsch [Ed.] 1982, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Masters of the
Sixteenth Century”, vol. 29, Abaris Books, New York, p.174); Bartsch XV.195.17
(Adam Bartsch 1803, “Le Peintre graveur”, vol. 15, Vienna)
The British Museum
offers the following description of this print:
“Envy (or
Avarice) at the right being driven from the temple of the Muses by Hercules who
raises a club in his right hand while the Muses look on”
Condition: richly
inked and well-printed impression trimmed with thread margins. The sheet shows
age toning but is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes,
abrasions, stains or foxing).
I am selling
this engraving of the utmost rarity by the 16th century printmaker whose work
is signed with a symbol of a dice—hence the artist’s descriptive title, “Master
of the Die”—for AU$400 (currently US$303.86/EUR258.07/GBP230.28 at the time of
posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.
If you are
interested in purchasing this superb print from the Renaissance era created in
collaboration with Ugo da Carpi—falsely claimed to be the first printmaker to employ
multi-plate (chiaroscuro) woodcut prints—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
The
Metropolitan Museum of Art offers the perfect explanation of what this print
illustrates:
“... Hercules, symbolizing virtuous strength, drives away Avarice—a woman holding a
hoard of precious objects—from the temple of the arts. The traditional
protectors of artistic pursuits, Apollo and Minerva, look on with satisfaction,
surrounded by the Muses. The nine muses, of which eight are visible here, were
also associated with learning, particularly with poetic inspiration. The
message is that avarice undermines the cultivation of the arts.”
The Met also
advises:
“The drawings
of Peruzzi were often engraved by the Master of the Die. In this case, he
collaborated with Ugo da Carpi. Ugo da Carpi was an important early
practitioner of the multiblock colored woodcut, a technique known as
chiaroscuro (literally, 'light-dark'), which he falsely claimed to have
invented.” (ibid)
What I love
about this image is the mask-holding muse in the right foreground who unambiguously
looks at me/the viewer. The psychological shock of being drawn into the
portrayed scene by this lady’s meaningful gaze turns me into an active
participant in the scene rather than a passive observer. This fascinating and
rare use of such a visual device to provoke a reflexive response is marvellous.
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