Philips Galle‘s engraving, “The Sons of God, Satan amongst Them, Present Themselves before Him”, 1563, after Maarten van Heemskerck

Philips Galle (aka Philippe Galle; Philippus Gallaeus) (1537–1612)

“The Sons of God [the Angels], Satan amongst Them, Present Themselves before Him” (TIB title) (aka “The Sons of God and Satan before God”) 1563, from the series of eight plates (TIB 5601.018:1–8), "The Story of Job" (aka “Geschiedenis van Job”), after the design of the intermediary draughtsman, Maarten van Heemskerck (1498–1574), with Latin text by Hadrianus Junius (aka Adriaen de Jonghe) (1511–1575), published by Philips Galle in Haarlem.

Note: the Curator of the British Museum advises that a related drawing by Heemskerck for this print is held by the Centraal Museum, Utrecht (inv. 11260) (see BM no. 1949,0709.113).

Engraving fine laid paper trimmed with narrow margins around the image borderline on the top, sides and below the text box, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 20.9 x 25.2 cm; (image borderline) 19.7 x 24.9 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower centre) “MHEEM. IN. 2.”; (on cloud below God) “PG. F.”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline in two columns of two lines of Latin text: "ALIGERO ... PECTORA DIRIS".

State: i (of ii)

TIB 5601.018:2 (Walter L Strauss & Arno Dolders [eds.] 1987, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Philips Galle”, vol. 56, Supplement, New York, Abaris Books, p. 74. cat. no. .018:2); New Hollstein Dutch 58-1(2) (Galle) (Manfred Sellink [comp. & ed.] 2001, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts 1450–1700: Philips Galle”, Part 1, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision, p. 88, cat. no. 58); New Hollstein Dutch 162-1(2) (Heemskerck) (Ilja M Veldman 1993–94, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts 1450-1700: Maarten van Heemskerck”, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 140, cat. no. 162); Bartsch LVI.73-80.018:1-8.

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(transl.) “The heaven-dwellers and Satan make their appearance before God. God is holding a globe under his arm. God gives Satan permission to do what he wants with Job's property. Under the representation an explanatory text in Latin.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.543353).

See also the description offered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art

(https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/632507)

and the British Museum

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1531183&partId=1&searchText=Galle+satan&page=1).

Condition: crisp, well-printed impression, trimmed near the image borderline and retaining the text box at the lower edge. The sheet is in excellent condition and is laid onto a support of conservator’s fine archival/millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this superb lifetime impression of this rare engraving, executed only 22 years after Michelangelo completed “The Last Judgement”, for the total cost of AU$272 (currently US$187.82/EUR167.82/GBP147.98 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 fascinating print illustrating the moment when God gives Satan permission to test Job's virtue (see Job 1:6–12), 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

For those interested in the portrayed scene the following New International Version (NIV) translation of the relevant passage from Job 1:6–12 may be useful:

“6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.

7 The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’

Satan answered the Lord, ‘From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.’

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’

9 ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied.

10 ‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.

11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’

12 The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.’

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord."

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1%3A6-12&version=NIV)