Augustin Hirschvogel’s etching, “The Lord Turns the Rod of Moses into a Serpent”, 1548

Augustin Hirschvogel (1503–1553)

“The Lord Turns the Rod of Moses into a Serpent” (TIB title) (aka “Moses and the Serpent”), 1548 (inscribed on plate), from the series of 104 illustrations published by Aegidius Adler (fl.mid-1500s) in 1550, Vienna, in “Vorredt und eingang der Concordantzen alt und news Testaments."

The Curator of the British Museum advises that Adler’s publication features “[t]wo etchings to a page with German letterpress above and below with relevant biblical passages” (see BM no. 1926,0617.13.55). TIB notes that this print is paired with the etching “The Preparation of the Cross” (see TIB 18 [9].1.63 [171]).

Etching on fine laid paper trimmed around the platemark (with loss of the letterpress text below the platemark) and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 11.7 x 14.7 cm; (image borderline) 11.3 x 14.5 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline at lower edge: (left of centre) “1548”

TIB 18 (9).1.62 (171) (Jane S Peters [ed.] 1982, “The Illustrated Bartsch: German Masters of the Sixteenth Century”, vol. 18, Abaris Books, New York, p. 156, cat. no. 1.62 [171]); Hollstein 134b (F W H Hollstein 1954, “German engravings, etchings and woodcuts c.1400-1700”, Amsterdam).

See also the brief description of this print at The National Gallery of Art: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.39338.html.

Note that the British Museum presently has a glitch with the description of this print. The illustration of this print may be found at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1926-0617-13-55 but the description of it is at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1926-0617-13-54.

Condition: strong and well-printed lifetime impression (based on the line quality with no sign of wear to the plate), trimmed around to the plate mark and laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in a very good (museum quality) condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this very early and extremely rare etching showing an early representation of landscape for AU$310 in total (currently US$240.68/EUR201.26 GBP172.88 at the time of posting 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 acquiring this Renaissance period print executed in Michelangelo’s lifetime—note the “borrowing” of Moses’ horns—and by the artist who arguably popularised the great Albrecht Altdorfer’s somewhat panoramic approach to landscape, 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