Jacques de Gheyn II (aka Jacob de Geyn) (1565–1629)
“Perseus liberates Andromeda”, 1588, after
Karel van Mander I (1548–1606), published by Jan Pitten (fl.1588–1615).
Engraving on fine laid paper, trimmed
with a narrow margin (restored in places) around the image borderline and
backed with a support sheet.
Size: (support sheet) 23 x 22.5 cm; (sheet
dia.) 17.8 cm
Lettered on plate below the outer image
borderline: (lower centre): "IAQUES DE GHEYN SCVLPTOR . KVMANDERE INVE
.1588.".
Lettered on plate between the two image
borderlines: (upper right of centre) "VIS TIBI NVLLA CADET BENE NI
PRVDENTIA PRÆSIT: PERSEVS [EXEMPEO] EST
VIRGINE IN ANDROMEDA .H.I. [initials of Heyman Jacobi] J.Pitten, exc:".
State i (of iii) before the change of
publication details inscribed on plate from Jan Pitten to Jacques Razet and the
addition of the publisher, Robert de
Baudous, at the lower edge. See the first state copy, which this impression
corresponds with, held by the BM (as attributed in the pencil inscription at
the lower right): 1878,0713.26220.
New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 144
(The De Gheyn family); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 147 (Karel van
Mander)
The British Museum offers the following
description of this print:
“Perseus freeing Andromeda; Perseus
rides on his winged horse above a sea monster; Andromeda stands naked chained
to a rockface; a group of spectators at right; in the foreground a group of
nymphs and a beach with a crab and shells; after Karel van Mander; round plate.”
See also the description of the print in
its third state at the Rijksmuseum:
Condition: first state/lifetime
impression trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and backed
with a support sheet of archival
(millennium quality) washi paper. The print is in a poor state with stains and
many watercolour restorations of losses and worm holes. (Note: the cleaning of
the sheet was executed with only distilled water and sunlight. No bleaches or
other chemical solvents were employed in restoring the print apart from
watercolour infilling of losses.)
I am selling this restored lifetime
impression of the utmost rarity for AU$420 (currently US$311.09/EUR266.94/GBP237.22
at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the
world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).
If you are interested in acquiring this remarkable
engraving by one of the most important of Goltzius’ students, 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
At the time that Jacques de Gheyn (the
younger) executed this print he was being taught the art of engraving by the almost legendary master, Hendrick Goltzius. Indeed, the influence of
Goltzius is fairly unmistakable as a quick look at the fluid modelling of the bevy
of women in the foreground and the delicate treatment of the not too distressed
Andromeda bound to the rockface awaiting her pending fate in the jaws of the approaching
very muscly sea monster testifies to his master’s guiding hand.
For those unfamiliar with the story of
Perseus and Andromeda given in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” (4: 765–86), the following
account from the National Gallery may be helpful:
“…Andromeda was the daughter of an
Aethiopian king. She was chained to a cliff by the sea as a sacrifice to a
monster from the deep. Perseus, who was also known for other heroic acts such
as killing the Medusa, flew overhead, instantly fell in love with the princess,
killed the beast and released her. Sometimes onlookers are shown watching from
the shore.”
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