Engraving published by Gerard de Jode, “Second Vision of Ezra: Ezra Comforted by the Angel”, 1585

Unidentified engraver from the school of the southern Netherlands

(Publisher) Gerard de Jode (aka Geeraert de Jode; Gheerde de Jode; Girard de Jode; Gerardo de Jode; Gheraerde de Jode) (1516/17–1591)

“Second Vision of Ezra: Ezra Comforted by the Angel” (aka “Ab angelo consolationem accipit Esdras interpretationeq[ue] a se visæ cognoscit.” [as titled on plate]), 1585, plate 2 from the series of four engravings, “Visions of Ezra” (aka “Van Esdras and Nehemias”), after Maarten de Vos (aka Marten de Vos; Maerten de Vos) (1532–1603), published by Gerard de Jode in 1585 as an illustration to “Thesaurus sacrarum historiaru[m] veteris (et novi) testame[n]ti, elega[n]tissimis imaginibus expressu[m] excelle[n]tissimoru[m] in hac arte viroru[m] opera: nu[n]c primu[m] in luce[m] editus” ([Google transl.] "Treasure of sacred stories old and new, elegant expressed finest pictures of her art works now for the first time to light"), in Amsterdam.

Engraving on fine laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 24.7 x 33.4 cm; (plate) 20.4 x 29.8 cm; (image borderline) 19.1 x 29.5 cm.

Numbered on plate within the image borderline at lower left: “2”.

Lettered on plate in Latin below the image borderline: “Ab angelo consolationem accipit Esdras interpretationeq[ue] a se visæ cognoscit. 4. Cap. 10.”

State i (of ii) Lifetime impression before the additional numbering signifying the second state (viz. the second number “2” within the image borderline and “25” at the end of the text line).

Hollstein Dutch 163-1(2) (Dieuwke de Hoop Scheffer [ed.] 1996, [Hollstein’s] “Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Maarten de Vos [text]”, vol. 44, Rotterdam, Sound & Vision Rijksprentenkabinet, pp. 44-45, cat. no. 163); Mielke 33 (H Mielke 1975, “Antwerpener graphic in the second half of the 16th century. The Thesaurus Veteris Testamenti of Gerard de Jode [1585] and his Artists”, Zeitschrift fur Kunstgeschichte 38, p. 80, cat. no. 33).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(transl.) “The angel Uriel comforts Ezra and helps him to his feet. In addition to Ezra are his vision of the radiant woman Zion. When she disappears, Ezra sees the city being built in the background. Below the image a reference in Latin to the apocryphal Bible text in 4 Ezra 10.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.384755)

See also the descriptions of this print offered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/651793) and the British Museum (https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1631641&partId=1&searchText=Ezra&page=1).

Condition: richly inked, crisp, near faultless, museum-quality impression with margins in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing), laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this exceptionally rare lifetime impression glowing with strong contrasts for AU$320 in total (currently US$225.16/EUR202.02/GBP174.38 at the time of posting this print) 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 superb engraving exemplifying the period style of Mannerism, 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