Lucas Vorsterman's engraving, “Adoration of the Magi”, 1602, after Rubens

Lucas Vorsterman I (aka Lucas Aemilius Vorsterman) (1595–1675)

“Adoration of the Magi” (aka “Adoration with the Torches”), 1620, after Peter Paul Rubens’ (aka Petrus Paulus Rubenius) (1577–1640) painting in the Church of St John, Malines and the modello drawing in the Cabinet du Dessins, Musée du Louvre (Paris) with a Latin dedication by Rubens to Albert, Archduke of Austria, published by Lucas Vorsterman I in Antwerp. This is a later impression.

Note that there is a very close copy of Vorsterman’s engraving by Pieter Nolpe (1613/14–c1652/3) but this copy can be easily distinguished from Vorsterman’s print by the production detail, “Peter Nolpe fecit”, and the lighter tone of the keystone illuminated in the archway above the Holy Family (see Nolpe’s engraving at the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1631634&partId=1&searchText=vorsterman+adoration+&page=1).

Engraving on heavy wove paper, trimmed with small margins around the plate mark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 61.7 x 46.8 cm; (plate) 59.1 x 44.5 cm; (image borderline) 58 x 43.9 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline (left) “SERENISSIMO … CONSECRATOVE. / P.P.Rubens pinxit.”; (centre) “Cum priuilegÿs, Regis Christianissimi, Principum Belgarum, & Ordinum Batauiæ.”; (right) “Lucas Vorsterman sculp. et excud. An.1620."

Schneevoogt 1873 22.84 (C G Voorhelm Schneevoogt 1873, “Catalogue des estampes gravées d'après P.P.Rubens”, Haarlem, p. 22, cat. no. 84); Dutuit.VI.54.44 (Eugène Dutuit 1884, ”Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes”, Paris); Hollstein 8 (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] & D. de Hoop Scheffer [ed.] 1993, “Hollstein's Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings & Woodcuts, 1450–1700: Lucas Vorsterman I”, vol. 43, Amsterdam, p. 16, cat.no. 8).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Adoration of the Magi; the Holy Family at right; the Christ child delves His hand into a vessel offered by one of the reverential Magi; the turbaned magi holds open a precious casket and the other holds a censer; behind them a crowd of figures strain for a better view; in the background by some columns two figures bear torches; after Peter Paul Rubens. 1620 Engraving”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3082620&partId=1&searchText=vorsterman+adoration+&page=1)

See also the description at the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.338266

Condition: well-printed faultless but slightly dull later impression with small margins and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in museum quality/near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or significant signs of use).

I am selling this very large engraved masterwork by one of the most famous and accomplished printmakers who collaborated with Rubens (until they had an major argument and parted), for AU$525 (currently US$360.87/EUR323.52/GBP285.28 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 purchasing this major engraving of the Baroque period, 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