Philips Galle's engraving, “Lion Hunt on Horseback”, 1578

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

“Lion Hunt on Horseback”, 1578, plate 17 from the second series of 104 numbered plates, “Hunting Parties” (aka “Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium” [transl. “With wild beasts, birds, fish”]), after Jan van der Straet (aka Joannes Stradanus; Ioannes Stradanus) (1523–1605), published by Joannes Galle (1600–1676).

Regarding the second series of prints, the Curator of the British Museum offers the following description regarding the title plate:

“From a series of 104 plates dedicated to the jurist Henricus van Osthoorn en Sonnevelt. …

Originally Philips Galle engraved 43 unnumbered plates with a dedication page to Cosimo de Medici; this series was enlarged and further plates by A. Collaert, J. Collaert, C. Galle I and C. de Mallery were added.

Literature: A. Baroni and M. Sellink, 'Stradanus 1523-1605: Court artist of the Medici', exh.cat. Groeningemuseum Brugge 2008-2009, Turnhout, 2012, pp.245-258, cat.nos.32-49.” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1619537&partId=1&people=93957&peoA=93957-2-70&page=1)

Interestingly based on the publication details inscribed on this plate, the publisher, Joannes Galle—the grandson of the master engraver, Philips Galle—has erased his grandfather’s name as the engraver of the plate. (Some kids need a good clip on their ears for such disrespect!) Note, however, that there is a chance that Joannes Galle published a different plate to the one that his grandfather engraved executed by an unidentified printmaker, but I can find no record of this. Nevertheless, there are subtle differences separating the impressions from his grandfather’s plate and this print, as may be seen when comparing the early impression that I showcased in a 2017 post (this earlier impression has been sold): http://www.printsandprinciples.com/2017/08/philips-galles-engraving-lion-hunt-on.html.

Engraving on laid paper with thread margins around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 21.7 x 29.9 cm.

Lettered within image borderline at lower left: “Ioan Stradanus inuent./ Ioan. Galle excudit.”

Lettered below the image borderline: “Sic venatoris lenti Leo terga fatigat, […] Cuspide ferrata dum saucius, ardet ab ira.”; (lower left corner) “17.”

TIB 5601.104:4 (Walter L Strauss & Arno Dolders [eds.] 1987, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Philips Galle”, vol. 56, Supplement, p. 404, cat. no. [5601].104:4); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 424 (Johannes Stradanus); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 522 (Philips Galle); Baroni Vannucci 1997 693.17 (Alessandra Baroni Vannucci 1997, “Jan van der Straet, detto Giovanni Stradano, flandrus pictor et inventor”, Milan, Jandi Sapi Editori)

The British Museum offers the following description of this print before the publication details of Joannes Galle (Ioan Galle) were added:

“Plate numbered 17, Lion Hunt on Horseback; at centre, a lion is trampled by men on horseback, armed with spears, while another lion attacks the central horseman from behind, who attempts to retaliate with a dagger” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1619831&partId=1&searchText=galle+lion+hunt&page=15 )

Condition: richly inked and luminous impression trimmed unevenly around the image borderline and laid onto a support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, folds, holes, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this strong engraving executed 43 years before Ruben's "The Lion Hunt" (1621) for a total cost of AU$256 (currently US$173.98/EUR157.51/GBP137.64 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this early engraving of a lion hunt, 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