Hendrik Goltzius’ engraving, “The Holy Family Before the Column”, 1585, after Bartholomaeus Spranger

Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617)

“The Holy Family Before the Column” (TIB title) (aka “La Vierge assise au pied dúne colonne”), 1585, after a sketch by Bartholomaeus Spranger (aka Bartholomeus Spranger) (1546–1611), modelled on the design of Raphael (1483–1520) as “transmitted” (to use the slightly ambiguous term of Walter L. Strauss in his commentary description of this print in TIB, vol 3, p. 303) by Enea Vico (1523–1517). First state, lifetime impression.

Engraving on laid paper (partial watermark: "Crest of Basel on Escutcheon with the Attached letter M”), stamped recto on lower edge with a collector’s blue ink stamp (Lugt no. 2707: “bleu le numéro ajouté à la plume au milieu”) and stamped verso with a collector’s violet ink stamp (possibly a variant stamp of Achille Barelli; see Lugt 72). The sheet is trimmed along the image borderline with loss of the text lines below.

Size: (sheet) 15 x 11.4 cm.

Lettered in plate along the lower edge: (left) “B. Spranger Inuen,,“; (right) HG[ligature initials] oltzius Scup,, et excu,, A^o1585.”

State: i (of iii) A lifetime impression before “et excu.” Is replaced by “ICV[isscher] excu.”

TIB 0301.274 S1 (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1982, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3 [Commentary], New York, Abaris Books, p. 303, cat. no. [0301].274 S1); Hollstein Dutch 318.

See also the descriptions of this print offer by the National Gallery of Art (Washington): https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.71103.html.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression trimmed around the image borderline with collector’s ink stamps recto and verso and remnants of old mounting hinges. Beyond minor age-toning and surface marks, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this very strong first state, lifetime impression by the almost legendary Goltzius for the total price of AU$613 (currently US$458.49/EUR417,55/GBP347.68 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, 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