Hendrik Goltzius’ engraving, “The Martyrdom of Saints Simon and Judas Thaddaeus”, c1578

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

“The Martyrdom of Saints Simon and Judas Thaddaeus” (TIB title) (aka “Sts. Judas Thadeus and Simon the Zealot”), c1578 (1576–1580), plate 10 from the series of thirteen engravings, “Martyrdom of the Apostles” after the design by Maarten de Vos (aka Maarten de Vos; Maerten de Vos) (1532–1603), published in Antwerp by the widow of Hieronymus Cock (aka Jérome Cock) (c1517/18-1570) through the publishing house, “Aux 4 vents” (To the Four Winds).

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed slightly irregularly along the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 20.5 x 28.1 cm; (image borderline) 18.8 x 27.8 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (in nimbuses at upper left) “S. Simon.”; “S. Judas Thadeus”; (lower right corner) “Aux.4.vents.”

Lettered and numbered in plate below the image borderline: “Hic summo adsurgunt celo duo lumina, pacis/ Semina qui iaciunt peregrinum leta per orbem,// 10// Sed cum Idola facris expellunt impia templis/ Occumbunt gladijs velut agni, et sijdera scandût.”

TIB 0301.112 (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1982, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3 [Commentary], New York, Abaris Books, p. 330, cat. no. [0301].295e); Holstein Dutch 359.

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “Simon and Judas Thaddeus are attacked by soldiers with different weapons (sword, axe, halberd); to the left of this scene, they are depicted again, Simon with a saw and Judas Thaddeus with an inverted cross in his hand. Below the [image are] two lines of Latin. This print is part of a series of 13 prints of Christ (unnumbered) and the apostles (numbered), more specifically of the tortures they underwent.” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.450870)

Walter L Strauss (TIB 1982) offers the following insights about this print: “On the left are Saint Simon with a saw, the instrument of his martyrdom, and Saint Judas Thaddaeus with a large T-square. Both apostles were brothers of Saint James the Lesser. According to legend, Simon preached in Egypt and Thaddaeus in Mesopotamia. Later they both went to Persia where they endured their martyrdom.” (p. 330, cat. no. [0301].295e).

Condition: a well-printed (near faultless) impression with narrow margins trimmed slightly irregularly around the image borderline. Beyond several small tears and minor remnants of glue verso, the sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age.

I am selling this lifetime impression (based on the line quality showing no sign of wear to the printing plate) by the almost legendary Goltzius, for the total price of AU$439 in total (currently US$304.43/EUR250.33/GBP250.27 at the time of posting 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 superb engraving by one of the most famous of the old master printmakers, 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