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Wednesday, 20 October 2021

Jan Sadeler I’s engraving, “Saint Dorothea”, c1585, after Maarten de Vos

Jan Sadeler I (aka Johann Sadeler; Johannes Sadeler) (1550–1600)

“Saint Dorothea” (aka “Heilige Dorothea”; “Saint Dorothy” [TIB title]), c1585 (1584–1587), plate 9 from the series of eighteen engravings of female saints martyred for refusing to marry, “Spectulum Pudicitae” (aka “The Mirror of Modesty”), after  a lost drawing by Maarten de Vos (aka Marten de Vos; Maerten de Vos) (1532–1603), published by Jan Sadeler I. Note that Isabelle de Ramaix (2001) in TIB, vol. 70, Part 2 (Supplement) lists this series in the category of “Johan Sadeler I Fecit”, but advises that beyond “The Virgin of Sorrows” which is signed as “scalpsit” by Jan Sadeler I, “The others [in the series] may have been engraved by a member of his [Sadeler’s] family or by Jacob Kempeneer, his apprentice” (p.120, cat. no. [7001].312–.329).

Engraving on laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 19.4 x 13.8 cm: (plate) 19 x 13.5 cm; (image borderline) 17.5 x 12.8 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower left corner) “Sadler excud./ M. de Vos figura.”

Lettered in two lines of Latin text below the image borderline: “DOROTHEA idolis quia Sacra offerre negabat,/ Offertur Summo victima grata Deo.”

State i (of i) Lifetime impression (based on the quality of the line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate).

TIB 7001. 328 (Isabelle de Ramaix 2001, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 70, Part 2 [Supplement], New York, Abaris Books, p. 135, cat. no. [7001].321); Hollstein 353 (Dieuwke de Hoop Scheffer [comp.] 1980, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Aegidius Sadeler to Raphael Sadeler II: text”, vol. 21, Amsterdam, Van Gendt & Co, cat. no. 350); Hollstein (Vos) 955 (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1996, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Maarten de Vos: text”, vol. 44, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision Rijksprentenkabinet, p. 205, cat. no. 955); Edquist 96a (p. 156).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“St Dorothea, seated with fruit on her lap, a sword beside her and holding the palm of martyrdom, with in the background a scene of her execution; after Maarten de Vos Engraving” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1871-0429-461).

See also the description offered by the Rijksmuseum:  http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.168526).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond a replenished hole in the lower right margin, the sheet is in a very good condition for its considerable age with no significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this superb impression of a sensitively executed and very beautiful engraving by one of the most famous of the Flemish old masters, for AU$370 (currently US$276.96/EUR237.93/GBP200.94 at the time of posting this print) 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 small masterwork of engraving showing the patron saint of brewers, brides, newlyweds, florists, midwives and gardeners (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_of_Caesarea), 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











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