Crispijn
de Passe I (aka Crispin Van de Passe) (1564–1637)
“Sibylla Cumaea”,
1601, plate 4 from the series of
eighteen plates, “The Sibyls.”
For those
wondering about this image I wish to propose my reading of what is portrayed. The
young woman shown here is the legendary prophetess who is soon to become a
thousand-year-old prophetess. She is portrayed in an entranced state of rapture
as she is willingly sacrificing her virginity—symbolised by the flower
bouquet—to Apollo—symbolised by the light where she gazes—in return for ever
lasting life. What is not shown in this image is the sad demise of the
prophetess, as time ultimate diminishes the prophetess’ size to such an alarming
extent that she lived in a jar and ultimately became so small that only her
voice remained … such a sad story.
Engraving with
etching on laid paper trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support
sheet.
Size: (sheet)
14.1 x 11.1 cm; (roundel image borderline) 11.1 cm dia.
Lettered on
plate: (band of Latin text around the roundel border) "SIBYLLA CUMAEA QVAE
ET CIMMERIA APOLLINIS IN CVMIS SACeRDos"; (below the roundel in six lines
of Latin verse) "In teneris … Sabæa"; (lower right corner)
"4."
Franken 1881
287 (Daniel Franken 1975, “L'oeuvre gravé des Van de Passe”, vol. 19,
Amsterdam, Scripta artis monographia, p. 39, cat. nos. 280–297); Hollstein
Dutch 321 (Karel Gerard Boon & Jan Verbeek 1964, “Dutch and Flemish
etchings, engravings and woodcuts ca. 1450–1700”, vol. 15, Amsterdam, Menno
Hertzberger en Co, p. 167, cat. nos. 314–331).
The British
Museum offers the following description of this print:
“Plate 4 from a
set of eighteen plates, sixteen medallions representing Sibyls, a titlepage and
a coat of arms; composition placed in a circle; Sibylla Cumaea, seen in
half-length, with bouquet of flowers. 1601 Engraving with etching”
Condition:
richly inked impression with strong contrasts trimmed along the platemark.
There is a restored loss of the upper-right corner (the restoration is virtually
invisible) and a crease in the lower-left corner. The print is laid upon a support
sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.
I am selling
this small and glowing jewel of an engraving showing the young prophetess in a state
of rapture (see my explanatory account of what is portrayed), for AU$197
(currently US$134.92/EUR121.03/GBP104.67 at the time of posting this print)
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 very beautiful engraving executed with the finest
of linework, 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
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