Aegidius Sadeler I/Johan Sadeler I’s engraving, “The Three Jews in Nebuchadnezzar’s Furnace”, c1575, after Maarten de Vos

Aegidius Sadeler I (c1550–1609) and/or Johan Sadeler I (1550–1600)

“The Three Jews in Nebuchadnezzar’s Furnace” (TIB title), c1575, from the series of nine engravings (TIB 7003.060–.068), “Scenes From the Old Testament” after a lost drawing by Maarten de Vos (1532–1603), possibly published by Aegidius Sadeler I—the elder brother of Johan I and Raphael I—as Isabelle de Ramaix (2003) in “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 70, Part 4 (Supplement), advises that Aegidius I “signed his plates ‘Sadeler excud.’” (p. vii), as is inscribed in this plate. Regarding the engraver who executed this plate, Aedgius Sadeler I may be both the publisher and the engraver responsible for its execution. Nevertheless, Johan Sadeler I is known to have made engravings for the publisher, Platin, from 1572 to c1579, after drawings by Maarten de Vos as explained by Isabelle de Ramaix (2003) (Ibid.).

Engraving on laid paper, trimmed close to the image borderline (along the borderline on the sides) and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 25 x 20.2 cm; (image borderline) 23.2 x 20.2 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: “Tres Hebraeos … flamma Lictorib. DAN. III./ D. Bos inuentor: Sadler excudit.”

State i (of i) Lifetime impression (based on the quality of the line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate and still retaining the inscribed guide lines for the lettering.

TIB 7003.067 (Isabelle de Ramaix 2003, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 70, Part 4 [Supplement], New York, Abaris Books, p. 88, cat. no. [7003] .067; [illus.] p. 90), Hollstein 1980, vol. 21, no. 124 (Johan Sadeler I); Edquist, p. 108, no. 22; Hollstein 1995–96, vol. 44, no. 208.

Condition: a richly inked, strong and well-printed early impression, trimmed along the image borderline on the sides, with small margins top and bottom and laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The lower left corner is replenished, there is a rust coloured mark at upper right corner and light age-toning, otherwise, the sheet is in a good condition.

I am selling this spectacularly strong impression of a very rare and seldom seen engraving—note that neither the British Museum nor the Rijksmuseum hold a copy of this print—for AU$343 in total (currently US$250.66/EUR227.15/GBP190.38 at the time of posting 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 superb engraving illustrating how an angel protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (the “three Jews” in the title) who were cast into a furnace on orders from Nebuchadnezzar II—the builder of the “Hanging Gardens” of Babylon—because they refused to worship the statue shown at upper right, 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