Johannes Visscher’s engraving with etching, “Aurora”, c1670, after Nicolaes Berchem

Johannes Visscher (aka Jan de Visscher) (1633/4–1712)

“Aurora” (aka “Ochtend”; “Dawn”), c1670 (1645–1701), plate 1 from the series of four plates by Visscher (Hollstein 1–4), “Times of Day” (aka “De vier delen van de dag”; “The Four Parts of the Day”), after Nicolaes Berchem (aka Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem; Nicolaes Berchen; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem; Nicolaes Pietersz.Berrighem) (1621/2–1683), published by Justus Danckertsz (aka Justus Danckerts; Justus Danckers; Justus Dankerts) (1635–1701).

Engraving and etching on laid paper trimmed unevenly with a small margin around the image borderline, with partial loss of the text lines below the image borderline (viz. the title and Visscher’s name), backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 31.4 x 37.9 cm; (image borderline) 30.1 x 36.9 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Berghem inventor.”; (right) “Justus Danckerts Excudit."

State ii (of ii).

Hollstein Dutch 1-II(2) (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1992, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Johannes Visscher to Robert van Voerst”, vol XLI, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 8, cat. no. 1 [II]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Dawn; a peasant saddles his donkey with a bell around its neck with a horned cow standing nearby; at left a blacksmith struggles to put a shoe on the hind foot of a donkey watched by a peasant woman carrying her child; after Nicolaes Berchem” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1870-0709-256 &

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1839-0413-263).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.319641.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with small margins around the image borderline and loss of some of the text lines. The sheet has been laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There are fractures/small tears to the lower edge of the sheet, otherwise the sheet is in a good condition for its considerable age with no significant stains.

I am selling this large engraving (with etching) showing a fascinating view of rural life during the Dutch Golden Age—note for example, how the child on the far left plays with a spinning top; how an untethered donkey is shod or has its hoof scraped; how a donkey is saddled with a bell around its neck—for the total cost of AU$294 (currently US$218.30/EUR188.08/GBP158.75 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 finely rendered light dappled scene, 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