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Monday 7 October 2019

Dirk Volkertsz Coornhert's etching, “The Meeting of Isaac and Rebecca”, 1549


(Attrib.) Dirk Volkertsz Coornhert (aka Dirk Volkertsz Cuerenhert) (1522–1590)

“The Meeting of Isaac and Rebecca” (TIB title) (aka “Isaak groet Rebekka” [Rijksmuseum title]), 1549, plate 6 from the series of six engravings, “The Story of Isaac's Search for a Wife” (aka “Isaaks zoektocht naar een vrouw”), after Maarten van Heemskerck (aka Maarten van Veen, Martin Heemskerk) (1498–1574), published in Haarlem.

Etching on fine laid paper trimmed slightly unevenly along the platemark with a narrow margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet
Size: (sheet) 25.7 x 20 cm; (image borderline) 25.2 x 19.5 cm.
Inscribed on plate: (tablet on lower right) “6 M [H]eemskerck 1549 13 E 6”.
State i (of i)

TIB 5501.004.6 (Ilja M Veldman 1991, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Dirck Volkertsz. Coornhert”, vol. 55 [Supplement], New York, Abaris Books, p. 21, cat. no. [5501].004.6); Hollstein Dutch 25 (FWH Hollstein 1951, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Brun–Coques”, vol. 4. Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger, p. 227, cat. no. 25); New Hollstein Dutch 22 (Ilja Veldman [comp.] and Ger Luijten [ed.] 1993-94, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Maarten van Heemskerck”, vol. 2, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 32, cat. no. 22).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:
(Transl.) “Back in Canaan, Eliezer and Rebekah are welcomed by Isaac. Rebekah greets Isaac with a kiss. The print is part of a series about Isaac's search for a wife.”

Condition: richly inked early (lifetime?) impression with restored tears (e.g. on the upper left edge and the upper right corner) and an abrasion to the lower right corner; otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition for its considerable age. The sheet is laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this exceptionally rare and (for me) a graphically memorable image—note how the figure (Abraham’s eldest servant?) standing behind Isaac and Rebekah has his eye cast towards the viewer in a meaningful stare and the slightly comical faces of the distant donkey and camels … not forgetting the fascinating way in which Isaac seems to be about to kiss Rebekah while pulling her hand towards his crotch!—for AU$330 in total (currently US$222.73/EUR202.83/GBP180.84 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 final plate in the series illustrating Isaac’s search for the perfect wife (Genesis 24)—viz, a lady who when asked for water from the well (shown in the foreground) will not only give Isaac a drink but will also water his animals—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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