Jérôme David’s engraving, “Jacob's Return to Isaac”, c1650, after Cochin & Raphael

Jérôme David (aka Hieronymus David) (c1605–c1670)—attribution based on this artist’s ligature monogram (see https://archive.org/details/engravingstheirv00slat/page/294/mode/2up) shown on the stone in the lower left corner

“Jacob's Return to Isaac” (aka “Comme Jacob retōrne vers son Pere Isaac”; “As Jacob returns to his Father Isaac”), c1650, after the intermediary design by Cochin (as inscribed in plate)—presumably Nicolas Cochin (1610–1686)— after Raphael's (aka Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino) (1483–1520) fresco (1518–1519) in the second Loggia at the Vatican (Apostolic Palace), published in Paris by Louis Boissevin (aka Lou Boißeuin) (c1610–1685).

The portrayed scene illustrates the biblical passage in Genesis 31:17–18:

“17 Then Jacob put his children and wives on camels. 18 He drove all his livestock ahead of him. He also took with him everything he had acquired in Paddan Aram. He left to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.” (New International Reader's Version [NIRV])

Engraving on laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 33 x 42.5 cm; (plate) 31.2 x 40.1 cm; (image borderline) 28.5 x 39.7 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline with ligature monogram of Jérôme David on stone at lower left corner.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Iacob impositis liberis ac coniugibus suis super Camelos abiit tulitqʒ [que] omnem/ Substantiam suam et greges pergens ad Isaac patrem sum in terram Chanam/ Genes.Cap.31./ Cochin Inuent.”; (centre) “Comme Iacob retōrne/ vers son Pere Isaac.”; (right) “Iacob ayant …/ …/ … le Saluer. En la Gene. Chap. 31/ A Paris chez Lou. Boißeuin à la rue St. Iaques à l’image de Ste. Geneuiesue proche la fontain St Seuerin”.

Condition: a strong and well-printed early impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate with small margins laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There are signs of handling, otherwise the sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age.

I am selling this large and exceptionally rare engraving that seems to be undocumented in the major museum repositories—note, however, that there are a number of copies of Raphael’s frescoes (see for example Cesare Fantettiin’s 1675 etching: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1867-1012-435)—for the total cost of AU$272 (currently US$199.87/EUR169.19/GBP143.94 at the time of 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 amazing engraving—my eye, for instance, keeps returning to the curved lines rendering only one of the clouds (possibly to make it appear to advance) and the elegant legs of the camel on the far left—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