Jan van Troyen's etching (with engraving), “Marguerite d’Antioche terrassant le dragon”, c.1660

Jan van Troyen (c.1610–after 1666)

“Marguerite d’Antioche terrassant le dragon” (Marguerite of Antioch slaying the dragon), c.1656–1660, from the album of 246 plates of David Teniers II's (1610–1690) “Theatrum Pictorium” (Theatre of Paintings), impression from the first edition published by Abraham Teniers (1629–1671) in Antwerp in 1660, after the painting attributed to Raphael in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (inv.no.171). Note: according to the Curator of the Rijksmuseum (see Rijksmuseum no. RP-P-2014-60-2), David Teniers (or his workshop) made a painted copy—a “pasticcio”—of this original painting as a model/modelli for Troyen to translate into a print and Teniers’ copy is now in the collection of the Glasgow City Council (Museums).

Regarding this attribution, the Curator of the British Museum advises that “while the overall design is given to Raphael, it is likely the painting was executed by his workshop (possibly Giulio Romano). See Dussler, 'Raphael: A Critical Catalogue', 1971, pages 51–52; and Jürg Meyer zur Capellen, 'Raphael: A Critical Catalogue of His Paintings', vol. II, 2005, cat. No. A15” (BM no. 1980,U.1599).

Etching and engraving on laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet trimmed slightly unevenly) 29.9 x 20.7 cm; (image borderline) 28.8 x 20.2 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) “[Rap]hael Vrbin p.”; (centre) “12 Alta. 6 Lata.”; (right) “I. Troyen S.”

Lifetime, first state impression before addition of the plate number, “2”.

Hollstein Dutch 47 (Ger Luijten [comp.] 1986, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca.1450–1700: Cornelis Anthonisz T[h]eunissen to Johannes den Uyl”, vol. 30, Amsterdam, Van Gendt, p. 198, cat. 47).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(Transl.) “Satan in the form of a dragon was about to devour Margaret of Antioch after she refused to marry the prefect of Antioch. Thanks to the crucifix in her hand, she managed to defeat the dragon. This print is part of an album.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.566096)

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum:

“St Margaret standing at centre, with crucifix in right hand, and gazing down at the dragon; after Raphael and his workshop.”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3158984&partId=1&searchText=Jan+Van+Troyen+&page=1)

Regarding David Teniers II's series of prints, “Theatrum Pictorium”, in which this print is a part, the Curator of the British Museum offers the following insights:

“He [David Teniers II] was also a vivid art collector and his collection amounted to around 1300 pictures (of which 517 Italian paintings) which now form the heart of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. As court painter, Teniers was commissioned to produce an illustrated catalogue of the archduke's most admired Italian paintings. As the editor of this large-scale project, Teniers himself first painted reduced copies of the paintings, intended as modelli for the several engravers employed by Teniers to execute the prints for this project. These modelli were quickly executed oil sketches on panels or canvas, of the same size as the prints themselves (approximately 17 on 25 cms).”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?museumno=1850%2C0713.20&objectId=3105878&page=2&partId=1)

Condition: richly inked and well-printed lifetime impression trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and with a replenished lower left corner. Beyond the repaired loss of the lower left corner, the sheet is in very good condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing) and is laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this strong lifetime impression showing the miracle of St Margaret (aka Margaret of Antioch; Saint Marina the Great Martyr) who was shockingly eaten by a dragon, but, fortunately, was regurgitated when the sharp edge of her crucifix irritated the dragon’s stomach, for AU$387 in total (currently US$271.07/EUR241.68/GBP204.99 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 acquiring this fabulous etching (with engraving) of the saint whose fame seems to rest on her promise of “very powerful indulgences” to those who wrote or read about her life, or invoked her intercessions (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_the_Virgin), 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