Nicolas de Larmessin II’s engraving, “Portrait of Lucas van Leyden”, 1682, after Van Leyden’s self-portrait

Nicolas de Larmessin II (Père) (c1645–1725 [BM dates])

“Portrait of Lucas van Leyden” (aka “Lvcae Leidano, Pictori” [as titled in plate]; “Lucas de Leyde”; “Luca Dolanda”; “Lucas de Leyda Hollandus”), 1682, engraved translation in reverse direction to the painted self-portrait (1525/6) by the painter and printmaker, Lucas van Leyden (c1494–1533) (see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Self-portrait,_by_Lucas_van_Leyden.jpg), and in the reverse direction to Andries Jacobsz. Stock’s (c1580-1648?) engraving of the same portrait (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1876-0708-115), published in 1682 in Brussels as an illustration to the second volume of Isaac Bullart’s (1599–1672) “Académie des sciences et des arts, contenant les vies et les éloges historiques des hommes illustres qui ont excellé en ces professions depuis environ quatre siècles” (Academy of Sciences and Arts, containing the lives and historical eulogies of illustrious men who have excelled in these professions for about four centuries), page 395. Note that this publication is available free of charge for reading on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=uj0_AAAAcAAJ&rdid=book-uj0_AAAAcAAJ&rdot=1.

Engraving with etching on laid paper trimmed with narrow margins with French text verso (as published in 1682).

Size: (sheet) 19.4 x 14.2 cm; (plate) 13.4 x 18.8 cm; (image borderline) 17.1 x 13.2 cm.

Inscribed with the artist’s monogram in plate within the image borderline at lower left: (ligature initials) “DNL”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “De, Larmessin Scul”; (centre) “LVCAE LEIDANO, PICTORI,”

Le Blanc 8 (Charles Le Blanc 1856, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant un dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations: ouvrage destiné à faire suite au Manuel du libraire par J.Ch. Brunet”, vol. 2, p. 493, cat. no. 8).

See also the brief description offered by the Austrian National Library: http://data.onb.ac.at/rec/baa3707749

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed lifetime/early impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, trimmed with narrow margins. Beyond remnants of mounting verso, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this very strong engraving capturing what I see as a living spirit in Lucas van Leyden’s self-portrait —note how the rendering of his eyes seem convincingly “alive” and link in well with the dimple near the mouth—for AU$235 (currently US$152.36/EUR153.23/GBP133.60 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 powerful and historically significant engraving showing the likeness of one of the most famous of the old master artists, 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