Adriaen
Collaert (c1560–1618)
“The
Task of the Working Class”, c1585, plate
3 from the series of 4 plates (Hollstein 1257–1260), “Trium Humani generis
ordinum sive statuum, Ecclesiastici videlic et, Regii, et Plebeii, graphica
deliniatio” (The Divine charge of the three estates), after the design by Maarten
de Vos (aka Maerten de Vos; Marten de Vos) (1532–1603) (see drawing held in
the Louvre collection [inv. no. 20589]: https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl020110795), published in Antwerp by Philips Galle (Philippus Gallaeus; Philippe Galle)
(1537–1612).
Engraving on laid paper
trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and writing edge and
backed with a support sheet.
Size: (sheet) 22.6 x 30.1
cm; (image borderline) 20.9 x 29.9 cm.
Inscribed in plate within
the image borderline on lower edge: (left of centre) “Marti. de Vos inuen.
Adrian Collaert. Sculp. Philip. Galle. excu.”
Numbered and lettered in
plate below the image borderline in three columns of two lines of Latin: “Quas fert
Magis Fratus ... CIVES probosq[ue] pertinent”;
(right) “3”.
Hollstein 1259; New
Hollstein 1072
The British Museum offers
the following description of this print: “The task of the Working Class; a
plain triumphal chariot with a peasant accompanied by female personifications
of ‘Obedienta’ holding a cross and ‘Patientia’ drawn by a mule labelled ‘Perseverantia’
and a cow labelled ‘Labor’ carrying tools (including palette and brushes); in
the background scenes of harvesting, ploughing etc; plate 3; […] after Maarten
de Vos./Engraving” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1937-0915-116).
Condition: a strong and
near faultless early impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate,
trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and writing edge and laid
onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The lower left
corner is restored and a tear at the centre of the upper edge has also been restored,
otherwise, the sheet is in a very good condition with no significant stains.
I am selling this
exceptionally rare engraving from the late 1500s (mindful that even the
Rijksmuseum does not hold a copy of this engraving online, but it has others
from the series) for the total cost of AU$320 (currently
US$217.47/EUR194.26/GBP164.54 at the time of 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. Note that payment is
in Australian dollars (AU$320) as this is my currency.
If you are interested in
purchasing this curiously interesting representation of the working class with
personifications of key virtues—note, for instance, the symbolic
personification of obedience (“Obedienta”) as a woman bearing a cross being pulled (with other virtues) by an ass, but instead of the usual ass shown with
a millstone around its neck (referencing Matthew 11:29–30, “My yoke is easy to bear”),
here the ass is laden to the hilt with the tools of working class trades including (marvellously)
a palette and brushes—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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