(Attributed
to) Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617)
“Giovanni de'
Medici in a Duel” (aka “Duel on Horseback”; “Giovanni De’ Medici Beats his
Opponent in a Cavalry Battle”), c1578/1583, plate 5 from the series of 22
plates, “Mediceae Familiae Rerum Feliciter Gestarum Victoriae et Triumphi” (transl.
“The Medici Family’s Successes Victories and Triumphs”) (aka The History of the
Medici), after Jan van der Straet (aka Joannes Stradanus; Johannes
Stradanus; Giovanni della Strada; Jan van der Straeten; Giovanni Statenensis; Giovanni
Stradano) (1523–1605), published by Philips Galle (aka Philippe Galle; Philippus
Gallaeus) (1537–1612) in Haarlem.
Note: The
Curator of the British Museum advises that the Rijksmuseum holds a related drawing
(see BM no. Ii,5.169).
Engraving on
fine laid paper with watermark trimmed close to the platemark with narrow
margins around the image borderline.
Size: (sheet)
22 x 29.6 cm; (image borderline) 20.2 x 29.4 cm.
Inscribed on
plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “Joh. Stradanus inue. P.Galle
excudit”.
Numbered on
plate below the image borderline: (left) “5”.
Lettered in
two lines of Latin on plate below the image borderline: “Joh. Med. hostem
fortiss. ad singulare certamen prouocantem hasta per loricam pectore/ Transfixo
exequo exanimem reliquit”
State ii (of
ii)
This
impression is from the first edition with Philips Galle as the publisher. There
is an (alleged) second edition published by Theodor Galle and a third edition
published by Johannes Galle.
(See
explanation of the three editions offered by Lombardia Beni Culturali:
TIB 3(3).286(87)–1(2) (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated
Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3, p. 253, cat. no. 286 [87]); Hollstein Dutch 330;
The British
Museum offers the following description of this print:
“Giovanni de'
Medici in a Duel; Giovanni remains on his horse holding a broken lance while
his opponent, at right, has fallen wounded from his horse; the duellists are in
an arena with assembled spectators. 1583”.
See also the
Rijksmuseum’s description of this print:
(Transl.) “Giovanni
de' Medici has just knocked his opponent off his horse with his lance. The two
are inside a fence, surrounded by a lot of horsemen. Two lines of Latin below
the show. This print is part of a 22-part series of prints from the history of
Giovanni de 'Medici, called' dalle Bande Nere '.”
Walter L
Strauss (1982) in TIB, vol. 3 (Commentary) offers the following description of
this print and insights provided by EKJ Reznicek (1980) in “Simiolus 10”:
“Giovanni de'
Medici is shown with his lance broken; his opponent, breast pierced by the tip
of Medici's lance, is falling off his horse. Reznicek notes a similarity in the
face of the dislodged rider to Jan van Hemessen's painting of 1566, ‘Christ
Driving the Money Changers from the Temple’ at Nancy (exhibition catalogue ‘Le
seizième siècle européen’, Paris [Petit Palais] 1965–66, no. 166) and to
Rubens's ‘Lion Hunt’ in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich” (Stauss, p. 311; Reznicek,
p. 201).
Condition:
early/lifetime impression (based on the crisp quality of the line showing no sign
of wear to the plate and its publication in the first edition as confirmed by
the name of the publisher) with no restorations, trimmed close to the image
borderline in excellent condition for its age (i.e. there is light age toning
but there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing).
I am selling
this graphically strong and very well preserved engraving for the total cost of
AU$402 (currently US$272.54/EUR245.59/GBP224.50 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 lifetime impression of a masterwork from the 16th
century, 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
