Jan Sadeler
I (aka Johannes
Sadeler; Johann Sadeler) (1550–1600)
“Saint Beatus”,
1600, after a lost drawing by Maarten de Vos (aka Maarten de
Vos; Maerten de Vos) (1532–1603), plate 1 in the series, “Oraculum
Anachoreticum” (aka “Hermits”), published by Jan Sadeler in Venice with
privilege from Rudolf II of Habsburg.
Engraving on
fine laid paper with a small margin around the platemark.
Size: (sheet trimmed
slightly unevenly) 17.4 x 22 cm; (plate) 16.9 x 21 cm; (image borderline) 15.6
x 21 cm.
Inscribed on
plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “Cu[m] priuil Su[m]mi/
Po[n]tif. et Cæs. Mai.”; (lower centre) "Ioa[n] Sadeler scalp. Marti[n] de
Vos figur.”
Lettered on
plate below the image borderline: Hic vera …/ …// I// … BEATVS …/ …ratus.”
State ii (of iii)
before the erasure of the number “1”.
TIB 7001.409S2
(Isabelle de Ramaix 2001, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Johan Sadeler I”, vol. 70,
Part 2 [Supplement], New York, Abaris Books, p. 276, cat. no. 409); Hollstein
439; Hollstein 1051 (Maarten de Vos).
The British
Museum offers the following description of this print:
“St Beatus praying before a cave over which is a cross;
beyond is a mountainous landscape with a dragon”
See also the
Rijksmuseum’s description of this print:
(Transl.) “In
the foreground the H[ermit]. Beatus, a Swiss hermit from the seventh century.
He is praying while kneeling for a crucifix near his cave. In the background a
mountain landscape with a dragon"
From my
understanding of St Beatus’ life, legend suggests that he was either born in
Ireland or was the son of a Scottish king and was baptised by St Barnabas and
ordained as a priest by the apostle, St Peter. More important to this
engraving, he spent his later life as an anchorite hermit (i.e. a recluse who
had withdrawn to a fully Eucharist-focused life as a living saint) in a cave on
Mount Beatenberg near the lake of Thoune in Switzerland and slew a local dragon
that was distracting him from his religious contemplation. (See a formal
account of St Beatus [aka Beatus of Lungern; Apostle of Switzerland;
Beatus of Beatenberg; Beatus of Thun] offered by Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatus_of_Lungern.)
Condition: near
faultless and well-printed early impression with a small margin around the
platemark. The sheet is in an excellent (near perfect) condition for its
considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, losses, folds, abrasions,
stains, foxing or significant signs of use).
Note: this the
second copy of this print that I have showcased. The earlier impression has
been sold.
I am selling
this stunning jewel of an engraving featuring not only the Saint praying
outside his cave—interestingly stocked with his next meal of veggies—but also a
marvellously animated dragon to the right of the hermit set against a vast
alpine panorama, for the total cost of AU$340 (currently US$230.12/EUR208.67/GBP176.08
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 simply glorious print executed with the lightest
of touches, 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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