Romeyn de Hooghe’s etching, “Charles II of Spain Kneeling by a Carriage”, 1685

Romeyn de Hooghe (aka Gisling; Romeijn de Hooge) (1645–1708)

“Charles II of Spain Kneeling by a Carriage” (aka “Karel II van Spanje knielend bij een koets”; “Carlos II cede su carroza a un viático”), 1685.

From what I understand, the etching shows Charles II (1661–1700) inviting a clergyman carrying a viaticum—the Extreme Unction used in the Last Rites—into his carriage with the invitation celebrated in heaven by the Pope and angels. Note that this celebration may not be about heavenly praise for the King, but rather the depiction of an angel holding an ouroboros—the symbol of a snake eating its tail—and another holding a banderole inscribed “MALORUM EXEMPLO” (bad example), may reflect the perception of the King at the time as expressed by John Langdon-Davies (1963) in “Carlos; the King Who Would Not Die” (Prentice Hall): “…from the day of his birth, they were waiting for his death” (p. 3).

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

Size: (sheet) 33 x 42.3 cm; (image borderline) 32.9 x 41.9 cm.

Inscribed on plate: (on banderole at upper right) “MALORUM EXEMPLO”; (left of foreground dogs) “Hooghe f:/ 1685”.

Hollstein Dutch 136

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(transl.) “Charles II of Spain kneeling by a carriage in front of an ecclesiastical dignitary holding the holy sacrament. In the background Madrid, in the sky the Pope surrounded by angels”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.124612).

See also the description offered by the British Museum:

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1869-0612-506).

Condition: richly inked and well-printed (lifetime?) impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, with a flattened centre fold and trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this large etching of museum quality from 1685 subtly laced with death wishes for the “bewitched” King who (amongst other curious acts) slept with his dead father in the belief that this act would enhance sexual potency—my sincere apologies if I am mistaken about this proclivity, but it truly fascinates me!—for the total cost of AU$498 (currently US$323.11/EUR298.49/GBP262.05 at the time of posting 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 masterpiece of 17^th century etching, 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