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Saturday, 27 April 2019

Abraham Blooteling & Pieter Stevens van Gunst's engraving, “Plate 99: Innominate with the Ischium”, 1685


Abraham Blooteling (aka Abraham Bloteling; Abraham Blotelingh; Abraham Blootelingh) (1640–1690) and Pieter Stevens van Gunst (aka Pieter van Gunst) (1658/ 59–c1731)

“Plate 99: Innominate with the Ischium”, 1685, after the drawing in the Ecole de Médicine, Paris, by Gerard de Lairesse (1640/41–1711) as plate 99 to Govard Bidloo’s (1649–1713) famous anatomical atlas, “Anatomia humani corporis / Ontleding des menschelyken lichaams", first published by the widow (de Weduwe van Joannes van Someren) (fl. after 1679) of Johan van Someren (1622–1676) in 1685 in Amsterdam.

In previous listings I showcased an impression (now sold) from the 1734 edition published by Jacob van Poolsum (1701–1762) in Utrecht that had 2.5 cm chainlines (rather than the 3 cm chainlines of this print) and on a sheet that is slightly smaller than this print leading me to propose that this impression is from the first edition.

Note that William Cowper (c1666–1709) also published an edition of the prints in 1739; see the description of the controversy about the Cowper edition offered by The Print Collector: http://www.theprintscollector.com/Article/Antique-Medical-Print-FOETUS-ABDOMEN-Cowper-Bidloo-1739.

Engraving on laid paper (3 cm chain-lines) with full margins as published.
Size: (sheet) 50.7 x 35.5 cm; (plate) 44.6 x 27.8 cm.
Numbered on plate at upper right corner: “T. 99.” and indexed, “Fig. 1” and “Fig. 2” and lettered from “A” to “H”.

For information about the Bidloo’s anatomical atlas in which this illustration is a part, see:
Christie’s Auction: Anatomy As Art: The Dean Edell Collection
Rare Prints Gallery
This publication is available to view online or to download free of charge from archive.org

Condition:, crisp and well-printed, faultless impression with minor spots appropriate to the age of the print, otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of use).

I am selling this large masterpiece of anatomical engraving featuring in its design a sprig of holly and a lidded jar—see my explanation below regarding these elements in the composition—for AU$485 (currently US$341.50/EUR306.12/GBP264.1 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 extraordinary and technically magnificent print, 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




Regarding the curiously interesting addition of the sprig of holly and the lidded jar featuring in its design, the flaming Rod of Asclepius (i.e. the rod entwined with a snake wielded by the Greek God of healing and Medicine, Asclepius) holly leaves (symbolic of life) and a skull (symbolic of death), I suspect that the artist addressing the notion of Vanitas (i.e. the impermanence of life) which was a popular theme in Dutch art at the time of the print’s execution—the Dutch Golden Age.









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