Hendrik Goltzius' engraving, “Saint Matthias”, 1589

Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617)

“Saint Matthias”, 1589, plate 13 from the series of fourteen plates, “Christ, the Twelve Apostles and St. Paul”, published by Hendrik Goltzius in Haarlem.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline (with loss of the lettered text below the image borderline) and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 12.4 x 10.2 cm; (image borderline) 12.2 x 10.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower centre) “HG”.

State: unidentified state (of VI). The loss of the lettered text and numerals below the image borderline makes the identification of the state too problematic (e.g. state ii does not show the Arabic numeral; state iii shows the Roman numeral; state iv has the publication address of Danckert Danckertz; state v shows the address of F. de Wit; and state vi has the address erased). Nevertheless, the impression shows no sign of wear to the printing plate suggesting that this may be an early impression.

TIB 3(3).55(25) (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3, p. 56, cat. no. 55 [25]); Hollstein 46; New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 47 (Hendrick Goltzius); Hirschmann 1921 46; (Otto Hirschmann 1921, “Hendrik Goltzius, Verzeichnis des graphischen Werkes”, Leipzig).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 13: St Matthias. Half-length, holding the hilt of a sword and resting his left hand on a book ...”.

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1470307&partId=1&searchText=Goltzius+Matthias&page=1)

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

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.438180

Condition: well-printed, early/lifetime impression (based on the crisp quality of the line showing no sign of wear to the plate), trimmed close to the image borderline and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in excellent /near faultless condition for its considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling).

I am selling this small engraved masterpiece from the 16^th century exemplifying technical virtuosity of the highest order for the total cost of AU$350 (currently US$236.87/EUR216.52/GBP192.69 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 remarkably beautiful engraving by one of the most important of the old master printmakers, 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