Jacob Matham’s engraving, “The Adoration of the Shepherds”, c1597

Jacob Matham (1571–1631)

“The Adoration of the Shepherds”, c1597, after a drawing by Abraham Bloemaert (aka Abraham Bloemaart) (1564–1651) in the Maida and George Abrams collection (see https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/212362) and published by Jacques Razet (fl.1589–1609) in Haarlem.

Engraving on laid paper trimmed with thread margins around the image borderline (with loss of the text box) and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 20.2 x 29.1 cm; (image borderline) 19.9 x 28.9 cm

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower edge at centre): "Abrahamus Blommaert Inuentor, / Matham sculp".

State ii (of ii)

TIB 4(3).67(148) (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 4, New York, Abaris Books, p. 57); Roethlisberger 1993 48 (Marcel Roethlisberger 1993, “Abraham Bloemaert and His Sons: Paintings and Prints”, 2 vols, Doornspijk, Davaco); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 18.II (Jacob Matham); Hollstein 34; Bartsch III.148.67

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Adoration of the shepherds; in a barn the shepherds gather around the manger and the Virgin lifts up the sheet to give a clearer view; an incongruous large classical column at right; after Bloemaert”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1479783&partId=1&searchText=matham+adoration+of+the+shepherds&page=1)

See also the description of this print at the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.collect.150515

Condition: crisp, richly inked and near faultless impression trimmed with fine margins around the image borderline laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The upper right corner has a small area of replenished loss—virtually invisible—and there are a few brown dots otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition for the considerable age of the print.

I am selling this exceptionally beautifully executed and elegant engraving exemplifying the period style of Mannerism of the late 16th century, for AU$423 in total (currently US$300.92/EUR265.47/GBP231.57 at the time of posting 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 purchasing this magnificent and very rare engraving capturing Bloemaert’s love of statuesque figures with alarmingly long arms and legs, and making theatrically meaningful hand gestures, 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