Jan Luyken, “Sodom Destroyed by Fire”, 1704

Jan Luyken (aka Johannes Luyken; Jan Luijken) (1649–1712)

“Sodom Destroyed by Fire” (aka “Sodem door't Vuur Vergaan”; “Josué fait arréter Le Soleil & la Lune”—titles inscribed in Dutch and French on the plate]), 1704, plate 6, page 18, from a series of sixty-two Old and New Testament biblical prints first published by Pieter Mortier (1661–1711) in 1708. This impression is from the 1732 edition published in Amsterdam by Jan Covens (1697–1774) and Corneille Mortier (fl.1688–c1743) in “Histoire les plus Remarquables de l'Ancien et du Nouveau Testament” (Most notable stories from the Old and New Testaments).

Etching on fine laid paper with full margins as published and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 36.2 x 46.9 cm; (plate) 34 x 44.5 cm; (image borderline) 32.5 x 43.5 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Edit. à J. Covens et C. Mortier.”; (centre) “Sodem door't Vuur Vergaan. Gen. – XIX.”; (right of centre) “Sodom consumée par le Feu du Ciel. Genese XiC Pag. 18. 6”.

State ii (of ii) with the change of publisher from Pieter Mortier I to his son, Corneille Mortier and Corneille’s brother-in-law, Jan Covens, and the erasure of the privilege. Lifetime/early impression (based on the crisp quality of the lines showing no sign of wear to the printing plate).

Van Eeghen 3241 (Pieter van Eeghen & Johan Philip van der Kellen 1905, “Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken”, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 2, p. 586, cat. no. 3241 [https://archive.org/details/gri_33125001866108/page/n211/mode/2up?]).

Condition: richly inked and well-printed impression with full margins as published and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The centre-fold of publication is flattened with a restored split on the lower margin fold-line. There is also a minor restoration (almost invisible) at the lower left corner and handling marks in the margins, otherwise the sheet is in an excellent condition with no significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this extraordinary etching showing a spectacularly large panoramic view of the fiery demise of Sodom, for AU$284 (currently US$214.82/EUR176.05/GBP160.76 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) 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 amazing etching of epic proportions, 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