Antonius Wierix's engraving, “Samson destroying the temple of the Philistines”, 1585

Antonius Wierix II (1555/59–1604)

“Samson destroying the temple of the Philistines” (aka “Simson vernielt de zuilen van de temple” [Samson destroys the pillars of the temple]), 1585, from the series, “The History of Samson” (aka “Thesaurus sacrarum historiarum veteris testamenti, elegantissimis imaginabus expressum excellentissimorum in hac arte virorum opera: nunc primum in lucem editus”) after Maarten de Vos (aka Marten de Vos; Maerten de Vos) (1532–1603), published by Gerard de Jode (aka Geeraert de Jode; Gheerde de Jode; Girard de Jode; Gerardo de Jode; Gheraerde de Jode) (1516/17–1591) in Antwerp.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed close to the plate-mark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 21.3 x 29 cm.

Lettered in Latin on plate below the image borderline: “Princibibus Samson ... manu. Judicum.16. Cap. 7”.

State ii (of iii) before the correction of state iii to the first word of the Latin text from “Princibibus” to “Principibus” and the addition of the verse numbers (“25.v.”) at lower right.

Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1978 30 (Marie Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1978, “Les Estampes des Wierix ... catalogue raisonné”, vol. 1., Brussels, Bibliotheque Royale, p. 4, cat.no. 30, illus. p. 2); Alvin 1866 96; Mielke 18; Hollstein Dutch 40-2(3) (Wierix Family); Hollstein Dutch 97-2(3) (Maarten de Vos).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (note that the BM’s copy is hand coloured):

“To right, a blinded Samson, standing while grasping two pillars of a temple and pulling it down; some Philistine men and women, seen falling, some dead under the rubble; an army escaping seen behind, to left.”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1623146&partId=1&searchText=Antonius+Wierix+samson&page=1)

See also the description offered by the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.collect.530329

Condition: richly inked, superb (near faultless) lifetime impression showing no sign of wear to the plate, trimmed near to the plate mark and backed with an archival support of (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this exceptionally rare engraving in museum quality condition for the total cost of AU$364 (currently US$254.15/EUR226.25/GBP203.01 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 stunning masterpiece of early engraving, 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