Hieronymus Wierix’s engraving, “Mater Dolorosa”, c.1585, after Jan Gossaert

Hieronymus Wierix (aka Hieronymus Wierx; Jerome Wierix) (1553–1619)

“Mater Dolorosa” (Mother of Sorrows) (aka “Our Lady of Sorrows”), c.1585, after Jan Gossaert (aka Mabuse; Jan Gossart; Johannes Malbodius) (1478–1532), published by Hans van Luyck (fl.1580s) in Antwerp.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed significantly within the image borderline, with tears, replenished losses and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 29.6 x 23.5 cm.

Inscribed on plate: (lower left) “Jeron. Wierix cec.”; (lower right) “H. Van Luyck.”

Mauquoy-Hendrickx 785 (Marie Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1978, “Les Estampes des Wierix ... Catalogue Raisonné, Premièe partie [Part I], Brussels, Bibliotheque Royale Albert, p. 139, cat. no. 785, ill. p. 110); Alvin 566 (L Alvin 1866, “Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre des trois frères Jan, Jérome et Antoine Wierix”, Brussels);  Hollstein 930 (Wierix).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: 

“Mater Dolorosa; the Virgin Mary seated at the foot of the Cross with her hands clasped and impaled by a sword, with a cityscape beyond; after Jan Gossaert Engraving”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1524184&page=1&partId=1&peoA=92227-2-70&people=92227).

Condition: richly inked strong impression trimmed well within the image borderline with stains, restored tears and infilled losses (e.g. the drapery beneath beneath the Virgin’s arm at left). The sheet is laid onto a support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this damaged but lovingly restored masterpiece of 16^th century engraving by one of the most famous of the Flemish old masters, showing the Virgin Mary seated at the foot of the cross with deep grief symbolised by a sword in her chest with a view of Jerusalem in the distance, for the total cost of AU$489 (currently US$282.30/EUR263.64/GBP242.54 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 large and very beautiful engraving—even in its very restored state—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