Paulus Pontius’ engraving, “The Mystical Vision of Hermann-Joseph”, c1630, after Anthony van Dyck

Paulus Pontius (aka Paulus du Pont) (1603–1658)

“The Mystical Vision of Hermann-Joseph” (aka “The White Monk”), c1630, after Anthony van Dyck’s (aka Anthoni [Ridder] van Dijck; Anthony van Dijck; Antoon van Dijk; Anton van Dyck) (1599–1641) painting, “The Vision of the Blessed Hermann Joseph” (aka “The Mystical Engagement of the Blessed Hermann Joseph to the Virgin Mary”), 1629–1630, in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (inv. 488), published in Paris by P Mariette (either Pierre Mariette I (c1603–1657), or, less likely, Pierre Mariette II (1634–1716), given the son’s birth date even though the son is known to inscribe the plates he published: “P Mariette”).

Engraving on laid paper with full margins on three sides (as published), trimmed slightly unevenly at right.

Size: (sheet) 41.8 x 31.5 cm; (plate) 33.3 x 26 cm; (image borderline) 28.7 x 25.5 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “A Paris Ches P. Mariette”.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline with five lines of Latin followed by a two-line dedication and a line of production details: “B. IOSEPH Presbyter et Canonicus Steinfeldiensis …/ …/ …/ …/ … euolauit die quarta Aprilis, Anno 1241./ Admodium. Rever do Amplissique Domi.o D. Ioan. Chrisostomo Vander Sterre ... / ... offert Ant. van Dÿck./ Antonius van Dyck inuentor […] Cum priuilegio. Regis […] Paulus Pontius Sculpsit."

State iv? (of vi) with the erasure of the publication details for Antoine Bonenfant of state iii and the addition of the publisher details for Mariette.

New Hollstein Dutch 599 (Ilja M. Veldman & Dieuwke de Hoop Scheffer [comp.] 1976, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Andries Pauli [Pauwels] to Johannes Rem”, vol. 17, Amsterdam, Van Gendt & Co, p. 85, cat. no. 599).

See also Carl Depauw & Ger Luijten's (1999) insightful account, including a discussion of the second version of this print (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.166184), in “Anthony van Dyck as printmaker” (New York, Rizzoli), pp. 221–2.

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(transl.) “The Virgin Mary appears to Saint Hermann Joseph of Steinfeld. She is flanked by two angels. In the foreground the biretta of the saint and his attribute the rose” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.166183).

See also the description offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1981-U-2060 & https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_R-2-45.

Condition: a strong, well-printed and near faultless impression in very good condition with generous margins.

I am selling this major engraving by one of the most famous of the old master printmakers of the early 1600s after Van Dyck’s painting—interestingly, I understand that Pontius received the same amount of money to engrave this print as Van Dyck received for his painting (150 guilders)!—for AU$429 (currently US$334.76/EUR280.25/GBP239.80 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 superb engraving, 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