Hans Burgkmair the Elder’s woodcut, “Charity”, c1510

Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531)

“Charity” (aka “Die Liebe”; “Love”), c1510, from a series of seven woodcuts, “The Seven Virtues”. This is a later (Dershau) restrike impression, possibly c1808, printed from the original woodblock plate.

Woodblock print on buff Japon paper.

Size: 18.2 x 11 cm.

Lettered in plate: (upper right) “DIE^▲LIEBE^▲”

State iii (of iii)

Hollstein V.96.292 iii/iii; Bartsch VII.216.50.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Whole-length female figure holding a burning torch and a child, another child at her feet; from a series of seven woodcuts. c.1510 Woodcut, a modern Derschau impression” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1919-1216-140).

Regarding the Derschau impressions, they are restrike woodcut impressions printed from the original plates in the (Baron Hans Albrecht von) Derschau collection now held by the Staatlichen Kupferstich-kabinetts (State Print Room) in Berlin. The Metropolitan Museum of Art advises: “Derschau is said to have discovered hundreds of original wood blocks by German masters in a trunk in Nuremberg, and in 1808 Rudolph Zacharias Becker produced the first of three volumes with restrikes from these blocks” (see  https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/431122). This impression is possibly from an earlier edition as it does not have the later Derschau stamp verso: “SAMMLUNG/ DERSCHAU/ 1922”.

See also the description of this print offered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/430793.

Condition: a richly inked and strongly embossed impression in pristine condition (i.e., there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling).

I am selling this superb latter impression of Burgkmair’s woodcut showing a female personification of love and charity holding a burning torch in her right hand, a child on her left arm and another child at her feet, for the total cost of AU$214 (currently US$153.13/EUR135.52/GBP113.39 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 simply stunning oldmaster woodcut, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.