Jacob Houbraken’s etching (with engraving), “The Artists, Johan Heinrich Roos and Juriaan van Streek”, c1718

Jacob Houbraken (aka Jacobus Houbraken) (1698­–1780)

“The Artists, Johan Heinrich Roos and Juriaan van Streek”— Johann Heinrich Roos (1631–1685); Juriaan van Streek (aka Juriaen van Streeck) (1632–1687), c1718, initially published in the Hague in 1729 by (the widow of) Engelbrecht Boucquet (fl.1729), Frederik Boucquet (fl.1729), Hendrik Scheurleer (fl.1729–1736) and Jacobus de Jongh (fl.1729–1764) with an ornamental frame (see https://archive.org/details/delevensbeschryv02weye/page/n342/mode/2up) in volume 2, page 301, of Jacob Campo Weyermann’s (aka Jacob Campo Weyerman) (1677–1747) “De levens-beschryvingen der Nederlandsche konst-schilders en konst-schilderessen” (aka “De Schilderkonst der Nederlanders” [The Art of Dutch Painting]). This impression (without the ornamental frame of the earlier edition) may have been published in The Hague (s-'Gravenhage) c1753, possibly by J. Swart, C. Boucquet and M. Gaillard as an illustration to volume 2, page 277 (as inscribed in plate) to Arnold Houbraken’s (1660–1719) “De Groote Schouburgh der Nederlantsche Konstschilders en schilderessen …” (see https://archive.org/details/degrooteschoubur22houb/page/n304/mode/2up). Note, however, that the 1753 edition has the additional letters, “a D”, inscribed before the page reference and the printing plate seems to be reduced in size on the left and right sides. These differences may suggest that this impression is from an earlier edition (as proposed by the seller from whom I purchased this print). Regarding this proposal, note that the Curator of the British Museum advises: “This plate [inv. no. 1874,0613.2304] (without ornamental frame) was first used to illustrate Arnold Houbraken's ‘De Groote Schouburgh der Nederlandse Konstschilders en Schilderessen’ (The Hague: 1718).  For more information see A. Ver Huell, Jacobus Houbraken et son oeuvre, Arnhem, 1875, pp. 95-98” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-0613-2304).

Etching with engraving and dot roulette on laid paper, trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (support sheet) 32.2 x 25.8 cm; (sheet/plate) 15.2 x 10.2 cm; (image borderline) 14.7 x 9.7 cm.

Inscribed in plate along the lower edge: (centre) “K p 277”.

See a description of this print (with its ornamental frame) offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-0613-2347.  

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression trimmed along the platemark with a minor restoration of a chipped edge at upper right and laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this remarkable double portrait of showing an amazing use of optical illusion (trompe-l'œil) for AU$221 (currently US$149.65/EUR140.71/GBP124.23 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 very memorable and insightfully conceived dual portrait—note that the bucolic scene shown below the upper portrait of the painter and printmaker, Johann Heinrich Roos, references this artist's choice of subject, whereas the suggestion of drapery cascading from the top of the image lightly references the background of still-life paintings by Juriaan van Streek, shown in the lower portrait—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.