Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Thursday, 16 January 2025

Philips Galle, “Cyrus showing Daniel the Bel Idol”, 1565, after Maarten van Heemskerck

Philips Galle (aka Philippus Gallaeus: Philippe Galle) (1537–1612)

“Cyrus showing Daniel the Bel Idol”, 1565, the second plate from the series of ten engravings, “The Story of Daniel, Bel and the Dragon” (New Hollstein 226–235) after the design by Maarten van Heemskerck (aka Martin Heemskerk; Maarten van Veen) (1498–1574), initially published in Antwerp by Hieronymus Cock (aka Jérome Cock) (c1517/18–1570) and later (as is the case with this impression) by Theodoor Galle (aka Theodor Galle; Dirck Galle) (1571–1633).

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 20.7 x 25.3 cm; (image borderline) 19.7 x 25.1 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (right of centre) “Martinus van heemskerck inuentor”; (right) “Theodor. Galle excu. 2”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (centre) “Rex Danielem ad Belum ducit ostendens quam multa comedat bibatq[ue]” (The king takes Daniel to Bel, showing him how much he eats and drinks).

New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) / The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts 1450-1700 (227.II); Riggs 1977 / Hieronymus Cock, Printmaker and Publisher (140)

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Cyrus showing Daniel the Bel idol; before the statue is a banquet table and a line of servants carry food and drink; after Heemskerck. 1565” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_D-5-86).

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression trimmed along the platemark and laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in a near pristine condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or stains.

I am selling this marvellously strong impression for the total cost of AU $298 (currently US $185.13/ EUR 179.89/ GBP 151.79 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. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $298) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this remarkably fine engraving, 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