Workshop of Hendrik Goltzius' engraving, “Apollo Killing Python”, 1589

Workshop of Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617) and executed under Goltzius’ direction. (Note that amongst the students in Golzius’ workshop were the highly distinguished artists: Jacob Matham, Jan Saenredam, Jan Muller, Jacob de Gheyn II and Pieter de Jode.)

“Apollo Killing Python”, 1589, from the series of fifty-two prints (of an originally planned 300), “Metamorphoses from Ovid”, published in Haarlem in 1589 by Hendrik Goltzius/Claes Jansz. Visscher (1587–1652) in “Metamorphoses Book I.”

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 17.8 x 25.6 cm; (image borderline) 16.8 x 25.2 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline with four lines of Latin verses in two columns by Franco Estius (fl.1580s–1594): "Immensum certis strauit ... / ... necat atq mari." 

State i (of ii) before numbering.

TIB 3 (3). 43 (105) (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3, p. 319, cat. no. 43 (105); New Hollstein Dutch 544–1(2).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 13: Apollo killing the Python; the god standing at left and pointing a big bow at the monster; after Hendrik Goltzius.”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3103131&partId=1&searchText=Goltzius+apollo&page=1 )

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum:

(Transl.) “Apollo kills the snake Python with many arrows (depicted here as a dragon). In the bottom margin a four-line explanation, in two columns, in Latin.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.568270)

Condition: an exceptionally rare lifetime impression before numbering, richly inked and well-printed, trimmed with small margins around the image borderline. The sheet is laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper to flatten the centre-fold of publication. There are a few stains retouched with watercolour to make them virtually invisible—in the distant sea below the arrow and on the first loop of the Python’s tail—otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition with no tears, holes, abrasions, or foxing.

(Please note that this is the second impression of this print that I have listed—the previous impression has been sold.)

I am selling this stunning, lifetime impression of a print that is very seldom seen on the market for the total cost of AU$460 (currently US$311.80/EUR281.43/GBP257.92 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 fabulous engraving from the 16th century, 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