Cornelis Galle’s engraving, “Indians catching ducks with pumpkins”, 1578

Cornelis Galle I (1576–1650)

“Indians catching ducks with pumpkins” (aka “Jacht op eenden”; “Hunting Ducks”), 1578, plate 95 from the second series of 104 plates, “Hunting Parties” (aka “Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium” (transl. “With wild beasts, birds, fish”), after Jan van der Straet (aka Joannes Stradanus; Ioannes Stradanus) (1523–1605) published by Cornelis Galle’s son, Ioan Galle (aka Jan Galle; Joannes Galle; Johann Galle; Ioannes Galle; Joan Galle) (1600–1676), in Antwerp.

This plate was added to the original set of 43 engravings executed solely by Philips Galle—Cornelis Galle’s father. Beyond Cornelis Galle, the later plates were executed by the following engravers: A Collaert; J. Collaert; I and C. de Mallery (see http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1619537&partId=1&people=93957&peoA=93957-2-70&page=1 and A Baroni & M Sellink, “Stradanus 1523–1605: Court artist of the Medici”, exh.cat. Groeningemuseum Brugge 2008-2009, Turnhout, 2012, pp.245–58, cat. nos. 32–49).

Engraving on chine collé (China) on fine laid paper with margins from a late printing.

Size: (sheet) 26.5 x 36.2 cm; (plate) 21 x 27.2 cm; (image borderline) 19.3 x 27 cm

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “Ioan. Stradanus inuent.”; (lower centre) “Corn. Galle Sculp.”; (lower right) “Ioan. Galle excud.”

Note: the Metropolitan Museum of Art proposes that this plate was executed by Jan Collaert I (c1530–1581) (see https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/393446?&searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&ft=pumpkin&offset=20&rpp=20&pos=35), but this attribution is unlikely as the plate is inscribed “Corn. Galle Sculp.” The Rijksmuseum advises that the engraver is Cornelis Galle.

Numbered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “95.”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline in two columns of two lines of Latin text: “Anserum agreste genus stagnante in aqua capit Indus. / Ipse cucurbità habet. Tec tum caput, illecebrisque // Allicit: esuriens anser visæ inuolat escæ. / Indus pascentem facili capit arte volucrem." (Google transl.: “Of geese in the water, it takes an Indian race of rustics, forms a stagnant lake. / He has a pumpkin. Then head to the roof, the baits // attracts hungry unimaginable gets goose meat. / Indian food to easily capture birds.")

State: iv (of iv) with the change of publisher from Philips Galle to Ioan Galle and change of the plate number.

New Hollstein 485 (Stradanus) (Leesberg Marjolein [comp.] 2008, “The new Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts 1450–1700: Johannes Stradanus”, vol. 3, Amsterdam, Sound and Vision Rijksmuseum, p.184; p.210 [afb.], cat. no. 485).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print from the earlier edition published by Philips Galle:

“Indians catch ducks in a pond. Indians camouflage themselves and hide in the water through a hollowed-out pumpkin. Wild ducks sit on the pumpkins and are easy prey. The print has a Latin caption and is part of a series about hunting scenes.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.collect.97364).

Condition: richly inked and near faultless late impression in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing). The sheet is laid onto a support of conservator’s fine archival/millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this superb late impression of this rare engraving, for a total cost of AU$244 (currently US$171.81/EUR154.01GBP133.02 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this fascinating print showing a fascinating way early Indians caught waterfowl—especially ducks—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