Cornelis Dusart’s mezzotint, “Victoria Publica”, 1695

 

Cornelis Dusart (1660–1704) and/or Jacob Gole (aka Jacob Golé) (c1660–1724)

Note that the British Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art attribute this print to Cornelis Dusart (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-6665; https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/376162), but that the Rijksmuseum attributes this print (described as an engraving rather than a mezzotint) to Jacob Gole after the design by Cornelis Dusart (see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.43423). The Rijksmuseum also attributes another impression of this print (or possibly a copy after Cornelis Dusart/Jacob Gole) to an unidentified/anonymous artist (see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.468290).

“Victoria Publica” (aka “Public Victory”; “De man met een vuurpijl, met toeschouwers”; “Man with Firework Rocket”; “A Watchman with Horn and Rocket”), 1695, from the series of eight prints, “De algemene blijdschap om de inname van Namen door stadhouder Willem III, koning van Engeland, september 1695” (aka “The general rejoicing at the capture of Namur by Stadtholder William III, King of England, September 1695”; “The Public Celebration on the Capture of Namur by William III”), published in Amsterdam by Jacob Gole with eight lines of verse by the Dutch pharmacist, author and poet, Abraham Bogaert (aka Abraham Boogaart) (1663–1727) (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Bogaert).

Mezzotint on fine laid paper trimmed around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (support sheet) 38.4 x 30.6 cm; (sheet trimmed slightly unevenly) 25 x 18 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “'C. Dusart inv. J. Gole Exc: Amstelodami”; (centre) “'VICTORIA PUBLICA/ Als de vuurpyl kust de wolken,/ Kust de weereld Wiliams hand,/ Die Brittanie en Nederland,/ Met de zaam verbonden volken,// Door de bliksem ran zun zwaard/ Red en hoed voor deerlyk Stranden,/ En ons doet victorie branaen:/ Dat hem Godt noch lang bewaard./ A. Bogaert”; (right) “cum Privilegio Ord. Holl. et West-Frisiæ”.

Hollstein Dutch 92 (F.W.H. Hollstein 1952, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450-1700: Douffet–Floris”, vol. 6, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger, p. 80, cat. no. 92).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression, trimmed around the platemark and laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There is a replenished chip to the upper left corner and a faint pencil inscription in with lower margin, otherwise the sheet is in an excellent (museum quality) condition for its considerable age.

I am selling this spectacular mezzotint of a firework celebration marking the taking of Namur by the Allies under King William III, for the total cost of AU$655 (currently US$490.93/EUR444.34/GBP374.26 at the time of 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 masterwork of mezzotint from the late 1600s, 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