Philips Galle’s engraving, “Ver”, 1563, after Maarten van Heemskerck

Philips Galle (aka Philippe Galle; Philippus Gallaeus) (1537–1612)

“Ver” (aka “Spring”), 1563, after Maarten van Heemskerck (aka Martin Heemskerk; Maarten van Veen) (1498–1574), from the series of four engravings, “The Four Seasons” (aka “De vier seizoenen”) (New Hollstein 538–541), with Latin verses by Hadrianus Junius (aka Adriaen de Jonghe) (1511–1575).

Engraving on laid paper trimmed close to the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 22.3 x 26 cm; (plate) 22 x 25.6 cm; (image borderline) 19.5 x 25.2 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (upper left) “1/ GEMINI. (with astrological sign)”; (upper centre) “QVATVOR ANNI TEMPESTATES./ TAVRVS. (with astrological sign)”; (upper right) “ARIES. (with astrological sign)”; (lower left of centre) “.I./ [ligature initials] MHEEM. INVEN./ [ligature initials] P GALLE FE. […] VER.”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline in two columns of two lines of Latin text: “FRONDE COMANS; NVDVS QVF …/ …// …/ … STATVMINA VALLANT/ HAD. IVN”.

State iii (of iii), with reworking of the image, erasure of the date, “1563” (shown in the first state), and the addition of the astrological names and the season title (“VER.”).

TIB 5601.088:1 (Arno Dolders [ed.] 1987, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Philips Galle”, vol. 56, Supplement, New York, Abaris Books, p. 333, cat. no. [5601].088:1); New Hollstein (Galle) 369 (Manfred Sellink [ed.] 2001, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Philips Galle”, vol. 4, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision, p. 46; p.48 [fig.], cat. no. 369); New Hollstein (Heemskerck) 538 (Ilja Veldman [comp.] 1993–94, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Maarten van Heemskerck”, vol. 2, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 214; p. 216 [fig.], cat. no. 538).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(Transl.) “In the foreground the personification of Spring: a youth crowned with a garland of flowers. In his hands a bow and arrow and a falcon, attributes of the hunt. In the background spring scenes: a milking farmer, horticulture and walking. Above in the sky the three astrological signs of spring: Aries, Taurus and Gemini. The print has a Latin caption and is part of a four-part series covering the four seasons” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.114890).

See also the description offered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/631720.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression trimmed close to the platemark and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. Beyond a replenished chip to the lower left corner and a few closed tears, the sheet is in a very good condition for its considerable age with no holes, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this very beautiful engraving featuring the symbolic attributes of Spring, for the total cost of AU$338 (currently US$261.13/EUR216.92/GBP188.73 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 Renaissance period engraving executed 22 years after Michelangelo completed the "Last Judgement" in the Sistine Chapel, 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