Crispijn de Passe the Elder (aka Crispin van de Passe) (1564–1637)
“The Hellespontine Sibyl”, 1601, plate 5
from the series, “The Twelve Sibyls“ (aka “De Twaalf Sibillen”; “Sibyllarum
Icones Elegantissimi”).
Engraving on laid paper with a small
margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.
Size: (sheet) 15.5 x 12 cm; (platemark)
14.5 x 11.2 cm; (roundel image borderline) 11.1 cm dia.
Lettered on plate along the roundel image
borderline: “SIBYLLA HELLESPONTICA MARINESSENSIS EX AGRO TROIANO”.
Numbered and Lettered in six lines of
Latin text below the image borderline: (centre) “Dum meditor …”; (right corner)
“V."
Franken 290 (Daniel Franken 1975, “L'oeuvre
gravé des Van de Passe” , vol. 19, Amsterdam, Scripta artis monographia, p. 39,
cat. nos. 280–297); Hollstein Dutch 324 (Karel Gerard Boon & Jan Verbeek
1964, “Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts ca. 1450–1700”, vol.
15, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger en Co, p. 167, cat. nos.
314–331).
The Rijksmuseum offers the following
description of this print:
(Transl.) “Bust of the Hellespontian
Sibille. In her right hand she holds three straws and in her left hand a book.
The image is encased in a medallion with an inscription in Latin. In the
margin a six line caption in Latin. Print from a series with the twelve sibyls.”
See also the brief description of this
print at La Biblioteca Angelica:
Note: the Rijksmuseum translation
proposes that the sibyl holds “three straws”, but the British Museum describes
them in Thomas de Leu’s (c1555–c1612) copy in reverse of De Passe’s engraving as
“three stems of bulrushes” (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3325773&partId=1&people=30875&peoA=30875-1-7&page=1).
From my standpoint, the stems look more
like stalks of wheat, which is closer to the Rijksmuseum’s vision.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the
significance of this sibyl (i.e. a prophetess or oracle), Wikipedia advises
that the Hellespontine Sibyl (aka the Trojan Sibyl) predicted the crucifixion
of Jesus Christ (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellespontine_Sibyl).
Going further, from my rather flimsy understanding of this sibyl, I believe
that she also prophesied that Christ would be born in a lowly dwelling and of
a virgin. Needless to say, there is a good chance that I may be wrong about
this.
Condition: richly inked impression with
strong contrasts. There is a closed tear at the lower centre of the right side,
otherwise the sheet is in very good condition for its considerable age. The
sheet is backed with a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi
paper.
I am selling this small jewel of an
engraving, featuring one of the better known ancient sibyls, for AU$197
(currently US$140.21/EUR124.87/GBP107.30 at the time of posting this print)
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
elegantly simple and very beautiful print, 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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