Gérard Edelinck’s engraving, “Saint Ambrose”, c1686, after Jean Baptiste de Champaigne

Gérard Edelinck (1640–1707)

“Saint Ambrose” (aka “S. Ambrosivs Mediolanensis Episcopvs” [as titled in plate]); “Heilige Ambrosius”; “St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan”), c1686 (1666–1707), after a drawing by Jean Baptiste de Champaigne (1631–1681), with privilege from Louis XIV (King of France).

Engraving on laid paper trimmed to the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 22.2 x 14.1 cm; (image borderline) 17.5 x 14 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “J. Bap. de Champagne delin.”; (centre)

“S. AMBROSIVS MEDIOLANENSIS EPISCOPVS/ Vocatione Aaron, Zelo Phinees, Moyses Lenitate, Dei/ Vindex, Arx Ecclesiæ, Imperii Arbiter, Cæli Discipulus,/ Fidei Doctor, Doctorum
Parens, Poenitentiæ Assertor,/ Poenitentium Patronus.”; (right) “G. Edelinck Sculp. cum pri.re.”

State ii (of ii) with the addition of text.

Robert-Dumesnil 23 (A.P.F. Robert-Dumesnil et [G. Duplessis] 1835–71, “Le peintre-graveur français, ou catalogue raisonné des estampes gravées par les peintres et les dessinateurs de l'école française: ouvrage faisant suite au peintre-graveur de Bartsch”,  Paris, p. 190, cat. no. 23).

See also the Rijksmuseum’s description of the print:

(transl.) “Saint Ambrose depicted in half as he writes. Below the scene an inscription in Latin” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.107610).

Condition: a strong impression, trimmed around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The print is in an excellent condition for its considerable age.

I am selling this extraordinarily beautiful engraving of one of the key religious writers (including hymns) in the 4^th century and, interestingly, the patron saint of beekeepers, for the total cost of AU$239 (currently US$177.67/EUR163.31/GBP136.35 at the time of posting this print) 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 fascinating engraving that not only shows St Ambrose looking over his shoulder and almost inviting us to see what he is writing, but also portrays the saint as if he has advanced in front the picture plane, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.