Philips Galle's engraving, “Title Plate: History of the Medici”, 1583

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

“Title Plate: History of the Medici” (aka “Mediceae Familiae Rerum Feliciter Gestarum Victoriae et Triumphi”), 1583, title plate to the series of twenty-one engravings (including this plate), “Mediceae Familiae Rerum Feliciter Gestarum Victoriae et Triumphi”, after Jan van der Straet (aka Joannes Stradanus; Ioannes Stradanus) (1523–1605), published by Philips Galle in Antewerp.

Engraving on laid paper trimmed around the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 20.9 x 27.9 cm.

Lettered on plate within the image borderline: (armorial banderole) “PLVS […] OVLTRE” [More]; (cartouche at centre) “MEDICEAE FAMILIAE/ RERVM FELICITER GESTARVM/ VICTORIAE ET TRIUMPHI./ Elegantissimis iconibus à Iohanne Stradano Flandro,/ artificiosissimo penicillo delineate et à/ Philippo Gallæo in æs/ incisa, et edita./1583.”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline in two lines of Latin text: “INGENIO ET GENIO NOBILI DNO AMBROSIO MARIENBERGO, OMNIS GENERIS PICTVRAE/ ET ELEGANTIARVM ADMIRATORI, PHILIPP. GALLAEVS L.M. DEDICABAT.”

State i (of iii) lifetime impression.

TIB 5601.102:1 (Arno Dolders [ed.] 1987, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Philips Galle”, vol. 56, Supplement, p. 384, cat. no. [5601].102:1); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 352.I (Johannes Stradanus) (Marjolein Leesberg [comp.] 2008, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Johannes Stradanus”, vol. 3, Amsterdam, Sound and Vision Rijksmuseum, p. 39, cat. no. 352); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 488.I (Philips Galle) (Manfred Sellink [comp.] 2001, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Philips Galle”, vol. 3, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision, p. 192, cat. no. 488); Baroni Vannucci 1997 691 (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:

“Title Plate to a series of twenty-one prints on the military deeds of Giovanni de' Medici; at centre a cartouche lettered with title and authors; a coat of arms surmounting the cartouche and four captives seen at top and bottom of the cartouche; the Medici coat of arms seen on both sides with various military motives, including armoury; with dedication to Ambrosius of Marienbourg.”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1618542&partId=1&searchText=Mediceae&page=1)

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description:

(transl.) “Cartouche with the title of the series: Mediceae Familiae rerum feliciter gestarum victoriae et triumphi. Around the cartouche weaponry (armour, bladed weapons, drums, guns and banners) and four prisoners, hands tied behind their backs. Top left and top right successively the arms of Giovanni de 'Medici (nicknamed dalle Bande Nere) and Cosimo I de' Medici. The latter crowned and with the order of the golden fleece. The weapon directly above the cartouche refers to the Habsburg emperors. It is a double-headed eagle with the coat of arms of Austria on the chest. In addition, the order of the golden fleece and the two columns of Hercules with the motto of Charles V: Plus oultre.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.595145)

Condition: richly inked and near faultless lifetime impression trimmed with a thread margin around the image borderline. The sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this superb lifetime impression of the title plate to the series, “History of the Medici”, for a total cost of AU$304 (currently US$207.98/EUR187.95/GBP158.41 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 title plate that is a true tropaion monument to the military deeds and power of Giovanni de' Medici, 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