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Saturday, 15 July 2023

Engraving from the circle of Maarten van Heemskerck, “David Beheads Goliath”, c1556, after Van Heemskerck

Unidentified printmaker from the circle of Maarten van Heemskerck (aka Martin Heemskerk) (1498–1574)

“David Beheads Goliath” (aka “David Severing Goliath's Head”), c1556, plate 7 from the series of ten plates (New Hollstein 94–103), “The Story of David and Saul” after Maarten van Heemskerck, published in Antwerp by Hieronymus Cock (aka Jérome Cock) (c1517/18–1570) and later by Theodoor Galle (aka Theodor Galle; Dirck Galle) (1571–1633).

Engraving on laid paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 26 x 33.1 cm; (plate) 20.2 x 24.9 cm; (image borderline) 19.5 x 24.6 cm.

Lettered and numbered in plate: (within the image borderline at lower left) “7”; (below the image borderline) “Infixus est lapis in fronte Philistei, cecidit, et precidit caput eius Dauid . i . Re . i7” ([transl.] A stone was stuck in the Philistine's forehead, he fell, and David cut off his head).

New Holstein Dutch 100 (Ilja Veldman [comp.] 1993/4, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450-1700: Maarten van Heemskerck”, vol., 1, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 93, cat. no. 100).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “Goliath lies on the ground. David stands with one foot on his chest and raises Goliath's sword above his head, ready to behead him. On the left, the Philistines flee, while Saul's soldiers give chase. In the margin a one-line caption in Latin from 1 Sam. (incorrectly referred to as 1 Kings on the print)” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.223123).

See also the descriptions of this print offered by the National Gallery; the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.54341.html; https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/626655; https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1949-0709-71.

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression, with wide margins. Beyond a flattened fold-mark (visible verso) and few minor handling marks in the margins, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this graphically strong and finely executed engraving showing the shepherd, David (note what I believe must be his crook in the foreground at lower right), about to behead the huge warrior, Goliath (note the stone embedded in Goliath's head that was cast from David sling and the extraordinarily large sword belonging to Goliath that David wields)—for AU$298 (currently US$197.85/EUR179.01/GBP155.58 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 superb engraving exemplifying the spirit of the period style of Mannerism, 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










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