Harmen Jansz. Muller’s engraving, “Fall of Jericho”, c1569, after Gerard van Groeningen

Harmen Jansz. Muller (1540–1617)

“Fall of Jericho” (aka “Val van Jericho”), c1569 (1568–1570), after Gerard van Groeningen (aka Gerard Groenning; Gerardum Groeninghen; Gerard P Groenning; Gerrit van Groenwegen; Gerardo a Gruningen) (fl. 1550–1599), plate 5 from the series, “The History of Joshua” (aka “De geschiedenis van Jozua”), possibly published in Antwerp in 1579 and 1585 by Gerard de Jode (aka Geeraert de Jode; Geerart de Jode; Gerardo de Jode; Gheerde de Jode; Gheraerde de Jode; Girard de Jode; Gerard de Jode (1516/17–1591) in “Thesaurus Sacrarum historiarum Veteris et Novi Testamenti”.

Engraving on fine laid paper with a small margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 27.8 x 29.2 cm; (plate) 21.3 x 25.4 cm; (image borderline) 19.8 x 25 cm.

Numbered and inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “HMuller fecit." (HM intertwined); (lower right) “.5.”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: “AD ARCÆ DOMINI PRÆSENTIAM. BVCCINARVMQ[ue] SONITVM CORRVVNT/ MVRI IERICHO. TRADENTE EAM DOMINO IN MANVS IOSVE. Iosue Cap: 6.”

State ii (of iii)

New Hollstein Dutch 23-2(3) (Harmen Jansz. Muller) (Ger Luijten [ed.] 1999, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: The Muller Dynasty”, vol. 1, Amsterdam, Sound and Vision. pp. 100–101, cat. no. 23); New Hollstein Dutch 45-2(3) (Gerard van Groeningen) (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1997, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Gerard van Groeningen”, vol. 1, Amsterdam, Sound and Vision. pp. 74–75, cat. no. 45).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

“Seven priests blow their trumpets as they walk in front of the ark of the covenant. The walls of the city of Jericho fall and the people storm the city. At the bottom in the margin a reference to the Bible text in Latin” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.157015).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed, near faultless impression with a small margin around the platemark laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond a few marks in the margin, the sheet is in a very good condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this magnificent engraving, showing a dramatic scene of priests blowing shofars at the front of a procession followed by two priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant with soldiers behind them, while in the distance the walls of Jericho tumble and burn, for AU$288 (currently US$222.26/EUR182.27/GBP156.64 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 Renaissance period engraving of superb quality—note that the British Museum does not hold a copy of this rare print—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